Online Dating in the 21st Century
Mon Amour,
Welcome to the 21st century where everything has moved to digital, including love. Online dating has changed society, but for better or for worse? I’ve been a skeptic myself of online dating and finally put it to the test- let’s just say my first experience did not go so well.
A friend of mine, Katelin Knox, encourages dating apps and she created my very first Bumble account with me one night. I had gotten out of an awful break up months before and she encouraged me to start dating again. I was on the app for five months before I actually met up with someone from the app. I found that it was easy to “talk” to people, but more difficult to meet up with those people in person.
Although it took me a while, one night I had a YOLO (you only live once) moment and went out on a date to watch a movie. I was naïve and didn’t realize it was a “Netflix and chill” situation which means put on a movie and have sex. Let’s just say I left that building within ten minutes because that’s not what I was interested in. I mean he was a complete stranger to me. The initial encounter was normal but five minutes into meeting we were sitting on his couch and he starts creeping his hand up my leg. I then looked at him and he said, “yes or no” and I said, “no.” He was baffled by my statement as if he had never been told no before. I left soon after; dodged that bullet.
The future of dating has moved to digital because it is a more convenient way for people to meet. In a world full of people who are connected via the web it has become harder to meet people outside of that bubble. However, based on my experience, both are hard to achieve. I didn’t go on my first Bumble date until five months of being on the app, but I had interacted with maybe 30 via messaging. Offline I met a guy at work and we grabbed a coffee. It didn’t end up working out, but we still talk and are friends.
There are pros and cons to online dating, based on my experience it depends on who you meet. There are nice guys out there, even online.
Have any of you tried dating online? Share your story in the comments below!
Serena Montoya is a second-year Arapahoe Community College student, majoring in journalism. She will be wrapping up her studies at ACC this fall and transferring to MSU Denver come spring to complete a bachelor's degree. In her free...
J • Oct 30, 2017 at 1:02 am
I totally agree. Online dating has become a platform for hookups. If that is not what Interests you it is hard to find genuine people who, by only hoping, will want the same as you.
Scott Bright • Oct 30, 2017 at 7:48 am
Although I would add that if we could be just a little more open and honest with our intentions when interacting with anybody, online or off, we might actually have a higher chance of meeting people who want the same things. Sometimes we’re not clear with others with what we want.