Who’s Still Swiping on the Dating Apps?

Are we more likely to fall in love or out of love in the time of self-quarantine? Curious about the inner-workings of dating apps in a moment of widespread social distancing, I lifted the hood of the thing and was surprised by how much I found percolating inside. Thanks to a robust survey conducted with MR community members between 20 and 40, and an inside job DMing people interview questions on my app of choice, I gathered some intel: everything ranging from surefire pick-up lines to quarantine dating tactics and musings on how the state of dating might evolve in the near future. Keep scrolling to take a spin through the intestines of what virtual romance looks like right now.

“Because we can’t go anywhere, and I don’t want to commit to endless weeks of speaking to a stranger without the possibility of meeting up!”
“I have a pretty good batch of matches I’ve taken off-app.”
“Because my past hookups are sliding into my Instagram DMs.”
“Social distancing makes it seem more like an annoyance than an actual option right now.”
“I’m not leaving my self-isolated bubble to go meet anyone these days, so why even bother chatting online?”
“It feels odd. I look when I get a like, but I’m not using apps for text buddies.”
“I actually met someone I really really like (eep!) the Sunday before everything started shutting down. I wasn’t going to date with a global pandemic, but then I met an amazing man right when the panic in the U.S. ramped up, and, well, now I’m trying to figure out my next steps.”

“I let my matches start a conversation.”
“How’re you spending your quaran-time?”
“Pancakes or waffles? (It’s quite the conversation starter. And everyone has strong breakfast carb opinions.)”
“Accepting FaceTime dates only.”
“Show me your grocery list.”
“Generally on Tinder and Hinge, I let guys do the legwork. On Bumble, I’ve been just waving hello or directly asking how their quarantine is going.”
“Nothing gimmicky is needed at this time, I feel.”
“Can’t spell quarantine without u,r,a,q,t, how’s it going?”
“What is one thing you wish you could be doing right now?”
“You honestly don’t need one, it seems like everyone just wants to chat with another human.”
“I usually wait for the other person to start right now. It feels weird to ask what’s up or how are you?”
“I swipe but can’t really start a chat right now.”
“Same as usual—just something from their profile because I don’t want to look like I’m catastrophizing—although I definitely am!”
“I normally just say I love you and see how that goes (usually quite well).”



“Men wanting to go on socially responsible walks!!! I had a Zoom date last night.”
“Haven’t matched with anyone new since this whole fiasco.”
“25% ‘fwb?’, 50% half-assed greeting without any follow-up, 24% weird(!) pickup lines/compliments, and 1% interested and engaged questions!”
“Literally since the U.K. finally went into some form of lockdown, every match is messaging. In times of boredom, men turn to Hinge.”
“A lot of references to quarantining together, or offers to do online classes for each other.”
“Positive ones! Connections are being made and people have more time to slow down and connect. Found much more intentional connections are happening right now through Bumble, at least!”
“Invitations to co-quarantine or escape into nature. Survivalist dates.”
“People are down for UberEats, wine and a video chat! Also, isolation clearly has some people feeling frisky and not afraid to be candid about it…”
“Honestly I think people are having more fun chatting right now. People seem less rushed and more interested in just going back and forth.”
“People are honestly checking in to see if I’m okay and how I’m doing. I’ve had people offer to get supplies or do a grocery run for me.”
“Much more conversationally heavy ones than normal.”
“The absolute WORST covid-19 puns. Definitely stolen from viral tweets.”
“I like ur dog.”

“Making pizza.”
“Confinement and the world situation.”
“I’ve been video chatting with a few matches on Bumble to check in on them during this time. Even though we have never met personally, it’s important to stay connected with others. It’s been really helping with loneliness!”
“We talk a lot about fashion! Still getting dressed for working-from-home, haha.”
“Horticulture, Schitt’s Creek, sweet potato fries, Lord of the Rings, and of course, coronavirus.”
“Mainly how weird it is to move back in with parents suddenly after being in college all year.”
“Netflix documentaries, social distancing, and losing our jobs.”
“Netflix shows to watch, the internet right now, bucket lists.”
“How we’re passing the time, likes/dislikes, sending covid memes, planning out future dates, dystopia dating.”
“Mostly the present moment. Some talk of fun date ideas for the future when we can leave the house again.”
“A lot of daily recaps. A lot of recipe- and music-sharing.”
“Sex and viruses.”
“WFH, daily life, vague plans of what we want to do when we can ‘finally meet.’ Someone asked me what my favorite dinosaur was the other day, that snowballed into an interesting conversation.”
“Food we’re craving, restaurants/wine recommendations after all the quarantine is over. People are having regrets on not trying/going to that place you’ve had on your list for months.”
“How coronavirus is impacting them, how it’s going to change dating, what we will miss when coronavirus lockdown is over, the joy of a hug, couple envy.”

“Some TikTokers.”
“No. Do people really do that? Does it work?”
“Nah. I’ve never been good at that.”
“F*ckboi from my hometown.”
“Slid into an old high school classmate’s DMs. He responded for a while, then left me on read.”
“I haven’t yet…talk to me on quarantine week 3.”
“Old boyfriends/crushes. Probably (definitely) a bad idea.”
“No, but have had several old flames resurface.”
“Not really, except people who put their Instagram handles on the ‘Love is Quarantine’ spreadsheet.”
“Not really, but I’m receiving a couple.”
“Yes. If you don’t shoot your shot, then you’re only going to end up with guys that like you, not guys you like.”
“The other day I messaged the band Haim but only because I was heartbroken I couldn’t go to their secret deli tour stop in D.C.”

“Until we run out of things to say.”
“As long as my boredom lasts.”
“Undecided but intrigued to see.”
“Who knows! Some want to wife me once we exit the crisis.”
“Days.”
“Until we (finally) go on a date.”
“For a while! I think video chat can actually be amazing!”
“Until they turn out to be douches?”
“Until I get bored?”
“As long as we keep having good conversations.”
“Until this whole ordeal is over.”
“As long as they last! Some seem circumstantial, and others are deeper and potentially longer.”
“Up to 2 weeks, then the conversation dies (them’s the rules).”
“No idea. It’s just been a nice distraction.”
“The eternal mystery.”
“As