The facts about dating during lockdown

By Michelle Begy, Matchmaker & Head Hunter, Ignite Dating

Coronavirus has affected almost every aspect of our lives and while the coming months will see businesses and schools reopening, one thing’s for sure, we won’t be returning to ‘normal’ just yet.

With the threat of a second wave still with us, we must continue to be cautious when socialising. Not only will this impact the time we spend with friends and family, but it will also affect how we meet new people and in particular, how we date. The dating landscape saw a huge shift during lockdown, with people unable to go out and meet each other. This led to many relying on apps, agencies and technology to find partners. While no one can say for sure whether this shift will be permanent, the dating world has certainly seen some big changes in 2020.

More people are looking for love

Not being able to see anyone outside your household took its toll on the population, with many desperate to reconnect with friends and family. This is also true of people looking for love. Our new-found appreciation for companionship saw a huge surge in people looking for relationships. In fact, on 29th March Tinder reported 3 billion swipes, the busiest day the app has ever seen. The Inner Circle platform also reported a 15% rise in matches and a 10% increase in messages being sent during lockdown.

People want to spend more time talking

In recent years, dating became more about instant gratification than forming genuine connections. However, since lockdown began, Bumble reported that 46% of its users have found it more rewarding to spend longer talking to potential partners before meeting them. The same number have said they will continue this approach to dating even after lockdown has been lifted.

Virtual dating is the new trend

Finally, there has been a 42% increase in video calls since lockdown began. From virtual pub quizzes to cooking with each other via Skype, video technology has brought people closer together and made virtual dating possible.

And with many people saying they will continue using this technology to work remotely after lockdown, this is another shift that looks like it may well be here to stay.

Ignite Dating takes the stress out of meeting potential partners. Visit www.ignitedating.co.uk or call Michelle on 0333 366 0640.

The dating landscape saw a huge shift during lockdown, with people unable to go out and meet each other.