The pandemic has given rise to a number of romantic tendencies such as zumping or corona cuffing. If you are single, you are very likely to be affected by lockblocking. We explain to you.
The coronavirus epidemic has completely changed our romantic behavior. Since then, we have seen various trends emerge which we would have done well: zumping, getting dumped via Zoom, corona cuffing, pairing up to avoid going into solo confinement and more recently, apocalypsing or the fact of get carried away a little too quickly. And if the coronavirus, by inviting itself into the new decade, has turned our lives upside down, it particularly impacts single people, by complicating romantic encounters. It's the " lockblocking ".
Lockblocking, when the coronavirus disrupts the romantic encounter
Have you had to change or cancel your plans with your crush due to the pandemic? Well, there is now a word for it. Dating site OkCupid coined the term lockblocking, which means canceling or rescheduling your dates due to COVID-19 restrictions. For singles, morale is low. Between confinements, curfews, the anxiety of contracting the virus, and places of socialization that are rare, the time is not really for banter …
Dating apps are the most effective way to meet people during this time. According to a study conducted by OkCupid, 36% of respondents canceled a dated due to the restrictive measures and 20% changed their plans and virtually met instead. 44% of the individuals did meet anyway, but did so outside and kept their distance.
Should we give up making new romantic encounters?
While the lock-blocking trend will (hopefully) be short-lived, it will likely remain fairly widespread as long as the pandemic continues and multi-level government restrictive measures remain in place. But the health situation does not dissuade single people from finding love. For Melissa Hobley, director of marketing for OKCupid Global, dating while in lockdown has some advantages, such as being able to take time. “It can be hard to figure out how to connect without meeting in person, but there are still plenty of virtual dates and outdoor dates that you can pursue! ", she explains to Metro. “Spending some time face to face, face to face, even if only virtually, with your date will help you get to know yourself better and build your relationship”. It will therefore be necessary to show imagination to reinvent the flirting at the time of confinements and curfews, or embrace celibacy. And as Melissa Hobley points out, "Social distancing restrictions will only make things even more exciting when regulations are relaxed again".