In an age where dating is as accessible as online shopping, it is not surprising to have unconventional changes in how relationships, “situationships” and friendships develop. You can virtually match with someone, and the result is a hook up delivered to your door sometimes even faster than your Uber Eats order.
When Tinder became increasingly popular, I was in a relationship. Once the relationship ended, I had no idea what these new apps were (Bumble, for example), and navigating the apps became overwhelming.
The first issue to tackle is the negative connotation surrounding serial dating. Dating is arguably one of the most transformative and eye-opening experiences of a person’s coming of age, and yet it is consistently boiled down to someone’s body count or a seemingly aloof emotional character.
I constantly advocate for people to experience at least one healthy dating frenzy in their life. A healthy dating frenzy allows for self-discovery, your likes and dislikes regarding emotional and sexual intimacy and what type of person truly attracts you. You can also discover new hobbies, restaurants and even in those rare, sometimes weird occurrences, you can find, if nothing else, a friend.
Even just swiping through profiles and never matching with anyone can give you an idea of what you’ll be faced with should you choose to brave the IRL dating scene. There are endless ways to use these platforms to your advantage, and there is absolutely no shame in figuring out who you are as a romantic being.