bumble , a dating app that allows women to make the first move with matches, has reported a 42 per cent spike over the past week as generation z users between the ages of 18 to 22 flock to the platform. video calls have jumped 21 per cent as people look to chat face to face, with calls lasting on average about 14 minutes.
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hinge is another hook-up app that has reported similar demand for virtual dates as social distancing has become more widespread. in an email, the company said that 70 per cent of users are expressing interest in going on digital dates.
every few swipes, tinder reminds daters about using hand sanitizer and maintaining safe distances from others. the company has even allowed all members access to a passport feature until the end of april, which allows users to interact with anyone across the globe on the app to socialize and check in with one another.
“wanting to meet your potential new thang is completely reasonable. however, staying inside and doing your part to stop the spread of this virus is exponentially more important than going out to meet them irl (in real life),” the company wrote in a blog post.
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plenty of fish (pof)sent out a message to users recommending that in-person dates pause immediately, with links to the world health organization’s (who) updates on covid-19. pof also included a checklist on its instagram page with tips on how to date while distancing.
“this list covers our best tips for dating digitally, emphasizing that all singles should politely decline any invitations to hang out in person and instead should invite one another on a digital date via video chat,” the company said in an email. plenty of fish is also launching a new feature called live! , which allows livestreaming with friends and potential matches, hoping to make it globally available by the end of april.
match group, which owns plenty of fish, as well as tinder, hinge, okcupid and match.com has even launched the dating while distancing hotline , a free service that lets users ask an expert for free advice on the current dating landscape, for example, how to organize a virtual date. the message on the the website is, “it’s a tricky time in dating right now. we get it. and with social distancing quickly becoming the new normal, the relationship rules just got a lot more blurry. that’s where our experts come in.”
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it’s perfect timing as social distancing is requiring people to get creative about how they spend time together. diane says she uses netflix party to watch shows on a “date.”
so obviously, if we are all supposed to stay at least six metres apart, and we know that the virus is passed from viral droplets in saliva , kissing is a definite no-no. and even if you don’t swap spit, thinking that going all the way is the safer route to orgasmic nirvana, experts have said there still are risks when it comes to having sex. we do know that coronavirus can’t be spread through sex, but since it’s pretty near impossible to maintain social distance while you are getting it on, there’s a risk you may be exposing yourself to the virus.
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o. school , a free online resource for sexuality and dating that offers medically accurate videos, articles and live streams on sex to educate people about their bodies, says that they’ve seen a surge in traffic since the end of february. according to founder andrea barrica, although people are home alone, they are actively searching for information on sex and wellness.
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