DENTON, Texas -- COVID-19 has transformed the dating scene in both Dallas and Denton, creating new fears for singles of catching the virus themselves or passing it along to their household. Many singles have turned to online dating, and some daters have even taken those relationships offline and found a new partner during the pandemic.
Apps, like Tinder, Bumble and Match, have all seen user growth and an increase in paid subscribers over the pandemic as more people search for connection in isolation. Tinder remains a favorite among Dallas and Denton singles, especially younger demographics ages 18-34.
Though COVID-19 cases in Dallas are still high, that hasn’t slowed down the dating scene because singles still have in-person dates. Singles 30 and older are open to both virtual and in-person dates but opt for in-person dates and, with the increasing availability of vaccines, list whether they’ve been vaccinated in their bios. As of Apr. 12, 475,265 people in Dallas County have been vaccinated.
Mindful of Precautions
Singles are taking precautions with their dates, including wearing a mask, social distancing and checking if the other person has tested negative for COVID-19 before meeting. For Azure Burrell, a judge’s assistant splitting her time between Seattle and Dallas, personal health and avoiding close spaces is a concern for her on dates.
“Don't know if other people are, so we are still wearing masks and kind of keeping our distance,” Burrell, 31, said. “I mean we're sitting at a table, like when we go out to eat and stuff, but definitely trying to keep our distance. He did offer to get a COVID test first, which I appreciate.”
One aspect of online dating that has gained popularity nationally is virtual dates. Some dating apps offer a video chat feature inside the app but some singles rely on outside services, like Facetime, Skype and Whatsapp video calls. During these virtual dates, couples meet from their respective homes for drinks or stream movies and shows together.
Maddi and Calli met on Bumble during the pandemic. While Maddi thought virtual dates were weird, Cali thought it was normal.
Virtual dates? No, thanks
However, that’s not the case in Dallas and Denton. Daters don’t use this feature much and prefer in-person first dates over virtual dates. Some have called it creepy or awkward, like Maddi Wolf from Denton, an administrative assistant at a beam and truss company who met her boyfriend during the pandemic.
“We met in person first,” Wolf, 31, said. “He wanted to do a video chat, and I thought that was pretty creepy. He was like ‘Oh, do you want to do happy hour over Facetime?’ and I was like, 'No, I don’t.'”
Virtual dates over video or phone calls present an alternative to in-person dates by staying within CDC guidelines of social distancing and limiting contact with people outside of the household who may have been exposed to the virus. Daters also take more time to get to know each other before meeting in-person and are more intentional in their dating, valuing meaningful conversation more than appearance now, according to Match.com’s 10th Annual Singles in America Survey.
The survey also found 68% of singles doing virtual dates during the pandemic used it to determine if they’d go on an in-person date with the other person, 69% would do another virtual date.
"We met in person first. He wanted to do a video chat, and I thought that was pretty creepy. He was like ‘Oh, do you want to do happy hour over Facetime?’ and I was like, 'No, I don’t.'"
-Maddi Wolf
For some singles, virtual dates are more convenient and are preferred considering their circumstances. Burrell, who will be relocating to Dallas from Seattle but has been traveling between the two cities, has met potential dates on Dallas Facebook groups and says the virtual dates work long distance.
“In this situation, we’ve been facetiming and doing like the Netflix party,” Burrell said. “So, we’re not meeting first, we’re corresponding first then meeting whenever I’m in [Dallas]. I'm actually going on my third day with the same person on this trip.”
With in-person dates, outdoor spaces are considered safer than indoor spaces because of the open-air circulation and greater ability to social distance on a date. Dallas and Denton singles opting for in-person dates go to coffee shops, parks, or happy hours at restaurants.
Prior to the pandemic, dating apps remained the most common way for singles in the U.S. to meet, but people still yearn for in-person traditional dating without the apps to find their match. Singles, especially women, have reported dating in general to be increasingly difficult within the past 10 years. Despite the negative attitude some have toward online dating, 57% of users have reported a positive experience, according to Pew Research Center. Match.com’s 10th Annual Singles in America Survey.
For some, however, dating has been easier and they’ve found love within months of getting on dating apps, like Wolf and her boyfriend, Cali Nolverto. They met on Bumble, and online dating was a new experience for Wolf, who downloaded the app in August.
“... a pandemic is happening, you've got to isolate yourself, and yeah, you do feel lonely sometimes.”
-Cali Nolverto
"I can’t say I felt lonely,” Nolverto, 35, said. “In the beginning, but once you get over it and you’re OK with yourself, you were fine. There was a little bit of as long as you’re just being by yourself but not urging for a relationship. It was more so a pandemic is happening, you've got to isolate yourself, and yeah, you do feel lonely sometimes.”
But for Wolf, she hadn’t felt lonely. She was just ready to dive back into the dating pool and meet someone.
“I wasn’t lonely before, I just wanted someone to spend time with again,” Wolf said. “I was ready to start dating and it just happened to be during a pandemic.”
These daters share their new pandemic joys with friends and family. Eden Bixler, a real estate office manager and friend of Wolf, was supportive of her friend’s decision of pandemic dating.
“She hadn't dated in a while, so I was actually encouraging if she felt like she was ready,” Bixler said. “I think it was a great way to try to connect instead of going out to meet someone. [Their relationship] was unexpected but it kinda fit! They have complimentary personalities and really hit it off.”
Adaptations and Future Outlook
Other singles have had a different experience and have been turning to dating coaches during the pandemic after experiencing feelings of isolation and loneliness. Dating coach and LCSW-S licensed psychotherapist Shaina Singh says the pandemic has hugely impacted the dating scene. Some singles date to fill the void of loneliness.
“Dating has undoubtedly presented itself with more challenges in the pandemic era,” Singh said. “Some people feel desperate in a sense they do not want to wait any longer to find a partner, and others feel hopeless. The kind of help-seeking I have encountered has been related to sadness, loneliness, breaking old patterns, creatively and safely dating, and meeting people.”
Shaina Signh is a psychotherapist, life coach and dating coach based in Austin.
Keyonna Adeniyi, a project management entrepreneur in Dallas, says her busy lifestyle has made her less intentional with dating and getting into a serious relationship, but the pandemic hasn’t changed her dating habits much.
“My dating practice hasn’t changed too much," Adeniyi said. “The type of men that I have been attracted to, a lot of them are working from home, and that has given me great comfort when meeting up. But when dating, it takes a lot for me to actually meet someone in person, even pre-COVID.”
“My dating practice hasn’t changed too much," Adeniyi said. “The type of men that I have been attracted to, a lot of them are working from home, and that has given me great comfort when meeting up. But when dating, it takes a lot for me to actually meet someone in person, even pre-COVID.”
Singles are taking their time to make meaningful connections and not rush relationships. Maybe this dating trend will continue in Dallas and Denton.
“I do think that the people who want serious, meaningful relationships will fall back on what maybe this season of COVID has taught us about just being intentional, paying attention to the nonverbals,” Adeniyi said. “You know, really taking the time to get to know each other.”
Keyonna Adeniyi is a business owner and Dallas single dating during the pandemic.