Post Pandemic Dating
Reviewed by certified relationship advisors
British dating was significantly reshaped by the pandemic — and some of those changes have stuck.
What changed and stayed: Video dates as a legitimate intermediate step before meeting in person. A slightly higher tolerance for talking about emotional and mental wellbeing early in a relationship. More willingness to be direct about what you're looking for.
What reverted: The in-person first meeting remains the essential step. Any "situationship" that develops entirely over screens is still seen as a holding pattern, not a real relationship.
The loneliness factor: Post-pandemic data consistently shows elevated loneliness across British society, particularly among 25-35 year olds who missed key social developmental years. This has made people both more intentional about connection and, paradoxically, sometimes less willing to risk rejection.
The app saturation problem: More people using apps than ever, but more people also reporting exhaustion with them. The demand for apps like Thursday — structured, fast, getting you to the real thing quickly — reflects this.
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