The New Age of Dating

Dating ten or twenty years ago was a whole different ballgame.

If you’ve been out of the dating scene for a while, then there are many surprises you will experience and adjustments that you need to make. Dating ten or twenty years ago was a whole different ballgame compared to the modern dating culture today. You may be familiar with getting set up by your friends or mustering up the courage for several weeks to ask out that girl or guy who always smiles at you at the local grocery store.

However, those tactics mostly only happen in movies. If you’re getting back into the dating scene after some time, you’re going to need a short orientation. Here’s what you should know before diving into the modern scene of today!

1. Online is Where it’s At

The first thing that you need to know about the new age of dating is that it now takes place primarily online. When people are looking for a date, they don’t go take a walk in the neighborhood with the hope of bumping into the cute next-door neighbor. Instead, they unlock their phone and download an online dating app. Swipe swipe swipe… that’s the new way of the dating world.

With nearly unlimited options, dating offers more variety and opportunity today. But it can also be just as intimidating. When everyone has too many options, it can be difficult to know what to pursue and how much time to give each prospect to figure out if they are the right fit. Plus, not everyone is looking for the same thing in the dating pool, so it can be quite exhausting to find the one who does. If you’re getting back into the dating culture after a while, buckle up because you may be in for a long ride.

…when intentions are set from the first date, it saves up a lot of your time and energy.

2. Endless Platforms

It’s not like there is one online platform. The list of dating apps out there is endless. When you decide to start dating again, one of the decisions that you’ll have to make is the choice of platform. Are you going to be on one dating site? Are you going to sign up for all? Which one is the best one for your specific situation/criteria? Should you pay for a dating app subscription?

Don’t worry; it’s not as bad as you may think. You may have some fun experiences figuring it all out, but trust that it’s all part of the process. Online dating platforms like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Match, Grindr, OkCupid, etc., are some of the most popular apps out there today.

3. It is A lot Quicker Today

If online dating were to be summed up in a phrase, it would be ‘hit or miss.’ Although it works for a lot of folks living a modern lifestyle, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re only familiar with the traditional concept of courting and dating, then this may be an alien world for you at first. People are more upfront about their needs (generally), but sometimes you can also find yourself in a limbo where relationships never go to the next level.

Upset confused young woman suing mobile phone reading text message

4. You Need to be More Upfront About What You’re Seeking

Since people have a lot of options at their disposal at all times, they may not always put in the effort that is required to build and sustain a long-term relationship. Not everyone is looking for a serious relationship in the online dating world. The advice in this situation would be to be openly communicative about what you’re seeking in a relationship from the get-go. When intentions are set from the first date, it saves up a lot of your time and energy.

If two people are looking for the same thing, they will have the reassurance that the other person does too. It will make the entire relationship easier to navigate.