Online dating: a place where love stories begin, but so do unmatched texts, ghosting sagas, and profile pictures that are way too good to be true. While I certainly don’t have much (or any experience for that matter) with online dating, all of my friends do. And I’ve been the one to give out the countless no’s, and a few yes to the matches in the online dating world.
What started as a way to broaden your social circle and find some possible dates has turned into its own internet culture. one filled with endless swipes, weird bios, and conversations that either die out immediately or drag on for weeks without a single plan to meet in real life. You can find just about every type of person on the apps. From the people looking for quick one night stands to people convinced they are just “seeing what’s out there,” online dating has it all. But it definitely is entertaining, especially for an outsider like me who isn’t on the apps and gets to watch the madness unfold in front of my friends.
Let’s be real—dating apps have turned romance into a game. Swiping has become second nature, a mindless habit people do while waiting in line for coffee or while just chilling at the end of the day. It’s like TikTok or Instagram now, just another social media people use to get their media fix.
If there’s one thing I’m sure about with online dating, it’s the ghosting. Ghosting is inevitable. Maybe you thought the conversation was going great, and then—poof! They vanish into thin air, never to be heard from again. No explanation, no closure, just silence. It can be pretty sad to see my friends get so invested in someone just to have them disappear the next day.
For all the frustrations I do know some people who have had some pretty great success stories. My best friend’s cousin is happily married to her match and my cousin has been dating her match for 3 years, so that’s pretty cool. It’s always nice to hear a wholesome success story in a world of horror stories.
Online dating culture can be a mix of highs and lows and a hit or miss. For some, it’s a fun way to pass the time, for others, it’s a frustrating cycle of ghosting and unmatched messages. But as much as it can feel like a never-ending game, it does work for some people. What do you think of online dating culture?