A common recommendation for coping with loneliness and depression is to have social contact. In the time of social distancing, contact often takes place through phone or video. This may help explain why more and more people are turning to dating apps such as Tinder to help combat loneliness . [ https://www.mndaily.com/article/2020/03/n-students-are-turning-to-tinder-more-than-ever-thanks-to-social-distancing ]. As in person meet ups have decreased, many are getting creative with video dating options available through apps and finding ways to express sexual intimacy outside of face-to-face encounters.

Our culture tends to struggle with instant gratification (SWIPE), wanting our needs met immediately or relying on a partner for our own happiness or fulfillment of sexual needs and fantasies. Relationship issues are a very common presenting concern in therapy and dating is often included as a significant source of stress. With use of email or text messages, there is a delay in communication (versus face-to-face or phone conversation) and it is also more difficult to detect tone. As anxiety is already heightened, it is no surprise to experience apprehension with texts when dating as you are missing out on the non-verbals. Since this is present with video dating options, communication tends to be improved. Throughout the course of “Too Hot to Handle,” contestants learn about nonverbal communication, vulnerability, intimacy, and empowerment. These are skills that are so important in dating, and in relationships in general such as eye contact and being able to pick up on cues such as flirting. One of the trends seen lately is that more and more people are having “matches” as people are taking more steps to form social connections which appear to be facilitated by quarantine. Being able to become vulnerable with another person where one can feel safe, share emotions and experiences during a time of social distances is, in my opinion, empowering.