{"id":28473,"date":"2021-12-06T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/?p=28473"},"modified":"2022-12-20T02:12:51","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T10:12:51","slug":"virtual-dating-and-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/online-dating\/virtual-dating-and-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual Dating: How The Pandemic And Technology Changed The Dating Landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s no getting away from it: COVID-19 changed so many things about our lives forever. This includes the way that we date<\/a>. Virtual dating became the norm as we weren\u2019t able to arrange spontaneous in-person dates. This helped us to keep the spark alive until we could be with people IRL again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDating during COVID-19 doesn\u2019t offer the romance of infatuation or the passion of a fling, but it teaches us to commit to something different: kindness, curiosity, discovery, patience,\u201d wrote Raisa Bruner in Time magazine<\/a>. So, could the virtual dating practices brought about by the pandemic be here to stay? And would it be good news if they are?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Exactly Is Virtual Dating?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the name suggests, virtual dating doesn\u2019t take place in person. In its most basic form, it can be a chat on a platform like Zoom or Google Hangouts, whilst sharing a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. For some couples, an unstructured virtual hangout might feel a little bit too much like being on a conference call. Those that use video chat platforms a lot for work might need to go the extra mile to help make the date feel special. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Different Types of Online Dates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Virtual dating has become more popular and \u2014 even when the \u2018Zoom fatigue\u2019<\/a> gets real \u2014 there\u2019re plenty of options to choose from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, try picking a very specific activity to do to feel more connected with your partner. Examples of this could include cooking a meal together, watching the same TV show, or even taking a walk and sharing some nice pictures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Choose Virtual Dating Post-pandemic?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re all pretty excited to get back out there and explore the world in person. That\u2019s understandable. But it doesn\u2019t mean that virtual dating needs to die forever. In fact, it could be a great option for people who are short on time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you\u2019re someone who struggles to fit in-person dating into your busy schedule, virtual alternatives are a great way to make the most of every minute. Not to mention, for those in a long-distance relationship, virtual dates are a fun way to connect from different cities, regions, or countries, in between planning in-person time together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virtual dating also helps to get a feel for a person before committing time to them. It’s a safe dating alternative for those who\u2019re anxious about meeting up with a stranger in person and can help to avoid those awkward first-date moments too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No longer will you have the uncomfortable situation of sitting in silence, waiting for the restaurant staff to bring the check so that a bad date can finally end. On a virtual date, it\u2019s much easier to bow out if you feel uncomfortable, which is a massive plus if you\u2019re still sussing someone out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for Planning a Great Virtual Date<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fancy giving virtual dating a try? Great! But, you might find that one of the biggest challenges is getting a virtual date to feel any different from the rest of the time that you spend in front of your laptop every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get the date vibes going, it\u2019s important to pay attention to the little things. Taking some extra time to put on a nice outfit or fix your hair can do a lot to boost your mood and might even get that familiar pre-date excitement flowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It sounds obvious, but don\u2019t forget about the logistics either. Lighting, for example. You\u2019ll want to make sure that your date will be able to see you so double-check that the room is properly lit. If you live with family or friends, give them a heads up that you\u2019ll be on a date, so that there\u2019re not any untimely disruptions that could kill the mood! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the boring stuff. Check your internet connection is stable. Grainy feeds aren\u2019t sexy, and if you\u2019re going to take the time to try virtual dating, you\u2019ll want the conversation to be smooth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once everything is set and you\u2019ve decided on what type of virtual date<\/a> you want to go for, sit back, relax, and enjoy the experience of post-pandemic dating<\/a> from the comfort of your own home!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s no getting away from it: COVID-19 changed so many things about our lives forever. This includes the way that we date. Virtual dating became the norm as we weren\u2019t able to arrange spontaneous in-person dates. This helped us to keep the spark alive until we could be with people IRL again. \u201cDating during COVID-19 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":221,"featured_media":28474,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[888,980],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online-dating","category-online-dating-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nVirtual Dating And The Pandemic: How Did They Change Dating?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Virtual dating became more popular during the pandemic. 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