Dating after COVID-19: What singles are saying about the new normal

Dating after coronavirus. - Contact restrictions are being relaxed, restaurants and cafés are reopening.

Under strict hygiene measures and social distancing rules, Germany is gradually returning to a new normal. And what do these relaxations mean for the approximately 16.8 million singles in Germany? What does the new normal look like when it comes to dating? And what do our singles say about kissing on a first date? LemonSwan asked its users across Germany how they are dealing with dating in the current situation:

Are dates currently an option for you?

A first date with that nice person you met online, despite the coronavirus measures? The majority (75%) of the more than 650 respondents agree: the current hygiene requirements and contact restrictions are no longer an obstacle to meeting in person.

At 80%, men are even more sociable than women, only 70% of whom would currently arrange a face-to-face meeting.

And what should such a meeting look like now? What is actually allowed and what is not? With constantly changing guidelines and different rules for each state, it's easy to get confused. But more than two-thirds (68 percent) of our singles confidently say, “I know what is allowed and what is not!” Another 13 percent, more than two-thirds of whom are male, prefer to listen to their gut feeling rather than the rules anyway. Only 17% are unsure which rules apply to them at the moment.

Dating after COVID-19 – Meeting up is fine, but social distancing and caution are important

For most singles, one thing is clear: meeting up is important to them, but caution is even more important. Only 20 percent would arrange to meet up in the normal way, as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most (51%) would rather get to know him or her online first. After prolonged contact, it is easier to assess how the person feels about the current situation and decide together what a meeting might look like.

Around a third (29%) would prefer to keep their distance even during a face-to-face meeting. For another 13 percent, additional mouth and nose protection would be mandatory.

But regardless of whether a meeting takes place at a distance or with a mask, for the majority of respondents (64%), it is particularly important that their date has the same attitudes toward contact restrictions and coronavirus measures as they do.

After how many dates would you kiss your date?

Slowly but surely, singles in Germany are venturing out of their homes again. But what about the first kiss or physical contact? Here, too, caution is the order of the day. 39% are more reserved when dating after COVID-19 than they were before. For almost as many (38%), it depends primarily on how well they have gotten to know each other online and by phone beforehand.

After how many dates would you kiss your date at the moment? 30 percent of those surveyed say that the optimal time for the first kiss is after the third date. And on this issue, too, female singles seem to be a little more cautious than their male counterparts. While 22% of men would like to exchange affection right away on the first date, only 10% of women would consider kissing on the first date. 13% of them would even prefer to wait until the 10th date.

What factors influence the current search for a partner?

There is no question on which LemonSwan users agree as much as on this one. When asked what factors currently influence their search for a partner, 81% say: “The desire for closeness.”

It is particularly interesting to note that younger singles seem to be especially in need of closeness in the current situation. Almost 90% of them say that their search for a partner is influenced by their desire for closeness.

In the 45+ generation, on the other hand, only about 75% want more togetherness.

In addition to more closeness, the desire for stability also seems to be on our singles' minds.

For just under half (48%), this is a good reason to focus more on finding a partner at the moment. Distraction from the current situation is a relevant issue for one-tenth, and the desire for financial security for just under 5% in the current situation.

Dating after COVID-19: German singles are optimistic about the future

Back in April, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, we asked our users how they would describe the current situation. Around half of all respondents (48%) rated the situation as “serious.” Uncertainty (28%) also prevailed among singles. Only 27% felt solidarity or confidence.

In our current survey two months later, the picture is completely different: confidence dominates (48%) and only 27% still rate the situation as “serious.” This result also makes us feel confident. With a good dose of understanding and caution, nothing stands in the way of dating after COVID-19 and thus a summer full of good cheer, love, and sunshine.