Hook-Up Culture and Dating
It’s 2021 and if you’re single, you’ve probably downloaded a dating app or have seriously considered it. I’ve already talked about online dating and the various benefits in a previous blog, so if you haven’t read it already, I highly recommend it.
I don’t believe hook-up culture has been such a big phenomenon until my generation. Although it is possible to find a genuine connection online, these dating apps do encourage people to find casual hook-ups with no effort.
Although this sounds so easy and effortless, there is a downside to this. With the ease of meeting so many people at your fingertips, it is really easy for people to ghost without hesitation. When you are meeting someone in-person for the first time, it is easy to miscommunicate and get completely different perspectives from the messages being exchanged.
With online dating, I think the biggest aid will be context clues in the language the other person uses. If someone genuinely wants to take you out and get to know you, they are most likely going to create a bit of small talk to get to know you a bit more and eventually ask you out to dinner or drinks if they want to take things further.
However, if someone is looking for something more casual, most likely you are going to hear from them towards the end of the week and they are going to be interested in what you are doing in the present moment. Some language they may use would be “let’s hang out” or inviting you over to theirs.
The way I see it, how you approach something will tell a lot about the outcome. Online dating can be a tricky place to navigate, but if you are truly interested in finding a connection with someone, then you most likely are going to attract someone with similar values. Put yourself out there and happy dating!
