Why the New Dating Culture Sucks

By Hannah Brown
Web Content Contributor

Nothing beats curling up with a bowl of popcorn and romanticizing life with a sappy rom-com or two.

Okay, maybe four.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to succumb to the dramatization of love and get sucked into a world of charm and too good to be true, while you’re waiting for a text back from your obsession of the week?

Dating isn’t like the movies and unfortunately, a date with Matthew McConaughey is pretty hard to come by. Late nights indulging in romantic comedies leave us disappointed even though we’re aware of the unrealistic fantasy these movies create.

Along with these movies, growing up online has assimilated a culture of young adults whose lack of social skills have triggered contrasting ideations of what the dating experience is supposed to be.

Our desire for instant gratification has created a demand for dating apps. They live under five miles away? Swipe right. Fun interests or hobbies, nice hair and at least a six out of ten? Yes, please. But if you aren’t attracted to them at first glance, a left swipe and you never see them again.

Most conversations never start, and the ones that do never make it past a message or two. Moving from random questions to real dates to real connections is often what separates the dating app pros from those who want to keep it offline.

Not to mention the casual intimacy of hookup culture which not everyone is a fan of. Of course, dating apps cater to these predilections and often leave those who choose not to partake behind.

These apps can also carry negative experiences for their users. Body image issues, lower self-esteem, ghosting and terrible communication are a few of the many problems that come along with online dating. Some use apps to make friends, strictly for fun, for hookups only (i.e., doable but not datable) and a select few use them with the intention of finding their next partner.

Filtering through can be a challenge, but at least it’s entertaining. Communication on dating apps is key to ensure that you and your match are on the same page about what you’re looking for.

Another effect of the current dating culture is how difficult it is to date after college. A great advantage that comes with higher education is the dating pool. There will never be a better time where you’re surrounded by other people of the same age, interests and life status than your early twenties.

It’s almost hard to imagine dating during a time without Snapchat or dm’s. If you’re tired of the downsides of dating online, ditch the apps and discover the many ways you can meet someone special. Changing your routine is a great way to meet new people. Going to a weekly workout class, joining local groups to meet likeminded people with shared hobbies, volunteering, grabbing a drink or latte solo and even getting a little help from your friends and family couldn’t hurt.

Because if we’re being honest, the chances of you and your future S.O. having a meet-cute straight from a romantic comedy are slim. Regardless of how you choose to date, keeping in mind that putting yourself out there and being the most authentic version of yourself is the best way to make a genuine connection.

Featured Image by Hannah Brown