Dating can be hard enough in the best of times. Throw in nation-wide social distancing mandates and a highly contagious virus, and you would expect the search for love to be the last thing On anyone’s mind. But, as Alexis Timko reports, dating is thriving and singles are turning to dating apps in record numbers, including here at USC.
Staying safe and healthy is a top priority during the ongoing pandemic, but, that isn’t stopping students from pursuing new romantic interests. In fact, some students are active on dating apps more often than they were before. USC senior Eileen Sakolsky even says using a dating app… daily…. gives her a sense of normalcy in these unprecedented times.
“I feel like more people are on dating apps now than they were before, just because it’s becoming a lot harder to just meet people like you can’t just go out anymore the way that you used to do it. life isn’t exactly the same. so it’s almost like everyone just decided to go on dating apps.”
Like Sakolsky, senior Gaby Jacobson is trying to find her balance in online dating during a pandemic. She says the stigma of meeting someone online, plus the dangers of contracting the virus, are a tough combination.
“But I mean, there isn’t really like another like safe way technically to meet somebody.”
Jacobson also feels like now, there’s added pressures to the already challenging online dating process. She has a hard time differentiating whether the nerves leading up to a date are because of meeting someone new?.... or if is it fear of exposure to Coronavirus?
“I think it, like, adds an extra layer of nervousness because there’s, like, extra things to worry about that you didn’t necessarily have to worry about prior to Covid.”
Being transparent about personal health with any romantic interest is always step one of the process, but with covid, that communication is especially important. Sakolsky says she asks about both types of testing before getting cozy with someone new.
“Usually I’ll ask them if they’ve been tested recently, I’ll tell them if I’ve been tested recently, try to make sure that both of us aren’t about to walk into a situation where we give one or the other Covid.”
Masks are a safe way to avoid giving or getting the virus, but Sakolsky prefers not to wear that type of protection on a date.
“We typically don’t wear masks because that would be really weird. I think we find that really weird to be on a date wearing a mask.”
And…. what about sex?
“I would not wear a mask during sex. First of all, I think that would be really hard on my breathing. It would be very complicated. on top of that, i can’t really imagine sex without much. facial contacts, you know, so no, definitely not into the mask thing.”
Earlier this fall, the University of Georgia released guidelines for student sexual health, including tips on how to avoid close face-to-face contact during sex. While their comments went viral for their awkwardness, the guidelines were a step in the right direction for discussing how to practice safe sex during the pandemic. USC has yet to release similar guidelines through the school’s health department.
For Annenberg Media, I’m Alexis Timko.