The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has changed the game everywhere, and the dating scene is no exception. Dating trends in 2021 look nothing like they did a few years ago.
If you’re dating again after a long period of downtime, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by how much everything has changed. The good news is that despite the obvious difficulties, the pandemic seems to have changed many aspects of the dating scene for the better.
For example, research shows 69% of people in the dating scene have started being more honest with their partners. Ironically, even though we’re in the middle of a pandemic, there may have never been a better time to date for those seeking a serious connection.
This article helps you to navigate this brave new world of dating by highlighting 5 key dating trends of 2021.
- Looking Locally
The rise of web 2.0 meant that many were dating well beyond the confines of their immediate geographical location. In the last decade, intercontinental relationships that eventually closed the gap were becoming more common.
It seems that the pandemic has killed this trend. With international travel looking so uncertain and risky for the foreseeable future, it’s no surprise that people are narrowing their search.
That’s not to say international relationships are now impossible, but due to the difficulty of international travel, fewer are prepared to take that chance.
If you want to meet people online in 2021, you might consider looking at sites that cater to a specific area. For example, if you’re based in Jordan, you might check out the best Arab chat rooms.
- Online Dates
While most places are starting to open back up again after months of lockdowns, it doesn’t mean that the online dates that characterized 2020 are over.
Even after you’ve had your second COVID-19 vaccination, it can take several weeks for the vaccine to offer its full protection. This means that many people won’t want to do a traditional restaurant or cinema dates just yet.
The COVID infection rates are also very fluid, so some people might be more comfortable with online dates when the infection numbers rise again.
Many daters are starting to prefer at least starting off with online dates to get a feel for a person before meeting them in person. Most people have horror stories of meeting people who turned out to be not what they expected.
Online dates enable you to figure out if someone is worth meeting in person. Expect online dates to stay, even after the pandemic is over. Many people are doing what’s called “slow dating,” where you take a long time to figure out if someone is right for you before taking things to the next level.
- Astro Dating
More people than ever are assessing the suitability of a potential partner based on their zodiac signs. Many sites now offer the ability to add a zodiac badge to your profile.
Many people who add zodiac signs to their online dating profile report that they get more matches with the zodiac sign than without it. If you’re struggling to match up with people in 2020, consider adding your zodiac sign to your dating page.
You might be surprised at how many people take zodiac signs seriously when dating. Often people will look at compatibility ratings between the various star signs before deciding whether or not to pursue a relationship.
- People Taking Things More Seriously
In the past, it wasn’t uncommon to experience ghosting, where someone you dated vanished without a trace. It was also quite common to meet people who were simply looking for a hook-up rather than anything serious.
Of course, this can still happen, but in 2021, you’ll find a lot more people are looking for serious relationships. This means that you can expect to have more serious conversations with people about what it is you’re looking for in a relationship.
You can also expect to experience people having higher standards about who they meet up with. The pandemic has led to a lot of people taking stock of their lives and thinking about what they really want out of a relationship.
You might need to talk about more intimate topics such as whether or not you want kids or if you’re ready for marriage. If you’re someone who’s looking to get something long-lasting out of the dating scene, this could be a positive development for you.
- New Dawn Daters
The pandemic has led to a lot of people questioning where they’re at in life. It’s also led to many people being locked down with their significant other for months at a time. This means that many people have broken up with their long-term partners.
Expect to see people who have been out of the dating game for a long time popping up on your dating apps. Many of these “new dawn daters” might have been in a relationship for so long that they’ve never used a dating app before.
This could lead to difficulties as you might encounter people who have a lot of anxiety about getting back into dating. You’re also more likely to encounter people who are trying to date again without being fully over their previous relationship.
Knowing These Dating Trends Can Help Your Love Life
Knowing and understanding these dating trends can certainly help you with your love life. If you want to find an ideal partner, you’ll need to get into the dating scene.
Most people you encounter when dating is simply following the trends. This is great news if you’re looking for something more serious. The dating scene has quickly transformed in response to the pandemic and global lockdowns.
People are now much more prepared to get to know people on a personal level before taking things further. Ghosting and dating only for hook-ups is now becoming less common.
If you want to learn about other lifestyle-related topics, take a look at some of our other blog posts.
