Ultimately, whether you decide to date right now depends on your own personal preferences and your own comfort levels, which isn't very different from pre-pandemic life. It's okay to try to look for potential partners right now just the same way it's okay to take a break and deal with some other things that might be happening in your life. We're all trying to get through this time in whatever way we can, so what's helpful for you might be different from what's helpful for your friends.
But if you do want to date, all hope is not exactly lost, according to Logan Ury, Hinge's director of relationship science and author of How to Not Die Alone. "People can still have a great love life despite the pandemic!" she says. "There has been a huge boom in virtual dating, so users are still finding ways to date in safe and creative ways. We predict that daters will continue to turn to online dating to meet new people outside of their usual community. In fact, 78% of Hinge users reported they expect to meet their match in 2021 through dating apps. As you navigate the new dating landscape, don’t rush it! There’s no set amount of time it takes to connect with someone, so make sure you don’t get caught up in comparing others around you."
To help you navigate the dating apps in quarantine, Ury shared some dating tips to keep in mind. (A lot of this advice can be applied to post-pandemic life, too.)