Quarantine is Giving College Students a Fresh Outlook on the Online Dating Game

By: Rebekah Harding

It looks like there are two contagious outbreaks plaguing college students: COVID-19 and the love bug.

Since the onset of the pandemic in March, dating apps like Tinder and Bumble have seen an unsurprising spike in user engagement. I mean, come on. We’re bored and lonely!

Just as proposed by the spicy reality show, “Too Hot To Handle,” a ban on physical intimacy and hookups might just be the key to more meaningful romantic connections.

Amy*, a first-year nursing major, got the chance to meet up twice with a guy she met on Hinge in February before her parents insisted she move back to the Poconos to quarantine with them. This wasn’t what she anticipated entering into a new conversation-ship, but the hours of digital quality time through Zoom and text that followed has created a secure bond between the two—even if the result is a platonic friendship.

“He has become an important person in my life and I know we’ve become close friends aside from all romantic intentions and feelings,” said Amy of their online dating dynamic. “At a certain point, I just lost all desire to talk to other guys and put my dating profiles on pause. I only wanted to focus my energy on the connection I have with him.”

But for Amy, it’s important to reconnect in person before they officially DTR.

“We already admitted to each other we are starting to catch feelings and deleted our dating apps,” Amy explained. “We both personally want to go on more in-person dates first to make sure the ‘click’ wasn’t lost, but we made it clear that we’re both interested in a serious relationship.”

Not all students hopped online with expectations of finding a new beau to brave the pandemic with from afar—sometimes some good old-fashion swiping on Tinder is done in order to pass the long hours inside.

Lauren*, a senior health professions major, made a game with her best friend to see who they could find from their high school on various dating apps.

Surprisingly, one particular swipe right led to great conversation and a connection that continued off of the app. Lauren and her date have been spending the hours of isolation FaceTiming and watching movies together over Zoom.

If things continue to go well, Lauren is ready to make things official once the two can meet in person.

“It’s like the show ‘Love is Blind’ because we are really forced to build an emotional connection and get to know each other that way,” Lauren said. “Personally, I think there is no better time than now to try and get to know someone.”

For other students, quarantine has put a pause on busy social and academic lives—leaving previously absent room in their schedules for online dating.

Coming out of an unhealthy relationship late last year and having a crazy final semester come to an abrupt close, Tyra Baker, a recent IUPUI graduate, is ready for a fresh start in the dating game.

“Online dating is a way for me to restart and reshape a dating life that I want with a healthier mindset to gain a healthier and happier outcome,” explained Baker.

After giving a few popular dating apps a try, Baker made a connection on Hinge, a newer app that focuses more on relationships over hookups.

Despite physical distancing in place during state lockdowns, Baker and her date have made an adorable effort to mix it up from just your standard Facetime call.

“Our first date was last week on Discord with a video chat to have virtual drinks. After that, he wanted to do it again, which was exciting,” Baker said.

Despite the limited privacy that comes with sharing a room at home with her 10-year-old sister, the new couple is making it work—there are even plans in the works to meet once state lockdowns are lifted.

“We will be having our second date this week. Defining the relationship will probably happen a bit later when we have an in-person meeting,” Baker said. “I'm a hopeless romantic, so I really would love to have a picnic with him at some point.”

For Baker, quarantine is no reason to put off finding her special someone.

“I want to date to find my life partner and that means even during a pandemic,” Baker said.

*some names have been changed for anonymity