Love in the Pandemic

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that love is a complicated thing. Adding in a year long pandemic to the mix has cast people into a new degree of isolation. Meeting new people is harder now than it has been in years despite the technological advancements we have made. Gone are the days of cliché rom-com meet-cutes. Social distancing has limited our ability to interact with others. We are now reliant on communicating virtually.

Even though people have normalized using dating apps over the years, it seems to be the only logical way to meet potential romantic interests in these modern times. As the pandemic restrictions do not seem to be easing up any time soon, I have seen most of my friends make profiles on various dating apps. These apps have changed how they operate to a certain degree in order to promote health and safety during the pandemic. Users sometimes state their dating preferences during COVID in their bios. They can now use video chat functions through their dating apps as an alternative to meeting up face-to-face with their matches. Even when people opt to meet up in person for a date, how much intimacy can they truly share? Masks limit how much we see of one another and sharing a kiss goodnight no longer seems so innocent.

This shift in how we date and meet potential romantic interests is vastly different to how romance operated in a college environment prior to COVID. Dating apps nowadays are the only tool to find romance, unless you want to pursue romance within your circle of friends.

However, I am not just talking about romantic love. All relationships have changed for better or for worse due to the pandemic and it has forced us to make numerous alterations in our everyday lives. Friendships too, have been greatly impacted by the pandemic. With new safety protocols that limit the amount of people that can interact with one another, people are hesitant to see others outside their immediate groups.

Maintaining friendships is equally as tough as making them these days. COVID-19 has created a distance in relationships because there is an immediate lack of face-to-face interaction. And let’s face it, Zoom fatigue is real. Sitting in front of a screen to talk to friends is tiring and not as satisfying, especially after spending all day in front of one for class.

As a college student, I’m so used to having all of my friends living near me. However, due to the switch to online classes, some people stayed home rather than coming back to school, thus creating a physical distance as well as an emotional one.

However, just because relationships may feel challenging now due to the pandemic, it does not mean that all is fated to fail. When it comes to relationships, we have to be more intentional with our actions. It is important to focus on the significant relationships in your life and make a conscious effort to make plans, check in, and encourage honest dialogue. At the end of the day, despite the difficulty, we still need love.

By Lilly Delehanty

Duke Student, pink purveyor and resident expert on surviving and thriving.