Is online dating in age of vaccination statuses worth the swipe?
By: Sydney Gauthier
Online dating was hard even before the pandemic, but since vaccination statuses are one of the first topics of conversation, some students say it’s harder.
During the pandemic, a lot of students have turned to online dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, ect. Websites have noticed an increase in revenue and are asking personal questions to match you with the right person.
Some new questions, like vaccination status, are getting mixed reviews from students.
Breanna Trudeau, 21, a Tourism Management student at Red River College Polytechnic, said it’s a choice to share your personal information with the public.
“Some people bring up the vaccination status right away but there are some things I want to share with the public and others I do not,” she said.
Business of Apps, a data and statistics research website for apps, said Tinder has more than doubled their revenue in the last few years, from $47 million in 2015 to $1.4 billion in 2020. The number of dating app users has also increased by 85 million since 2015.
Online dating has grown significantly over the past 20 years and even more with the pandemic. Zach Lusgdin, 21, a Digital Film and Media student at Red River College Polytechnic, said he noticed dating sites become more popular over the pandemic.
“It’s valid because we are just trying to get back into the routine of seeing and talking to people,” he said.
Dating sites have improved communication forms by adding options like video chats, games and having a separate screen to watch movies together. Some students still want to meet in person but are worried about the consequences.
“My mom and Grandma have bad immune systems and I don’t want to put them at risk,” said Lusgdin.
Others are more comfortable meeting in person for a date in a private space rather than a public setting.
“A lot of people would rather come to my house than go out,” said Trudeau.
Health restrictions have challenged the dating world and made virtual dating the new normal. Online dating does not plan on disappearing anytime soon. Dating apps are likely to grow steadily to a revenue of $5.71 billion by the year 2025, according to Business of Apps.
