Months have passed since the COVID-19 coronavirus quarantine and establishments are still implementing social distancing causing many continue to self-isolate and cut themselves off from social interaction. 

For many students, college is the time to explore new romantic relationships but with coronavirus not going away anytime soon, many are struggling to find love at Shippensburg University. 

SU senior *Rebecca has been single for a long time before COVID-19, using dating apps like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble on rotation. 

“I have always been trying to put myself out there. I find that nowadays with our generation it is just harder to find a relationship, general pandemic or not,” Rebecca said. 

According to a report from The Today Show, dating apps such as Bumble and Tinder saw a 19-26% increase in usage in mid-March. 

Vice Magazine reported that Generation Z (people born after 1995) have less sex than teenagers in the 90s and are less likely to want a serious relationship. 

With a mix of Generation Z’s supposed lack of commitment and almost no social events, many are losing hope on ever finding their “person” in college. 

“I think it would be nice to have someone so it would not be so lonely and stressful,” Rebecca said. “[To have] someone other than family & friends to lean on and share life with.” 

Other students in preexisting relationships before COVID-19 had to figure out how to keep their love healthy and alive. 

“Me and my girlfriend maintain our relationship during coronavirus by spending as much time together as we can, since we can’t go out as much, we have more at home dates,” senior Sam Kelk. 

Grace Lippert, a West Chester University student already had trouble maintaining her long-distance relationship with her boyfriend before COVID-19 made things worse. 

Lippert started to date her boyfriend eight months ago before quarantine, skipping the traditional dating style. They tried to text and FaceTime as much as possible and keep each other updated on one another’s lives before calling it quits in early November.

“It was rough because we didn’t have a strong base before the long distance so that definitely didn’t help. We were able to see each other safely a couple of times so that was nice though,” Lippert said. 

Dating in general will continue to look different as the coronavirus cases continue to spike in the U.S. and a cure is yet to be announced.  The New York Times published “The New Rules of Dating,” a guide to successful date during in the new normal. Some tips include going on Zoom dates and sticking to wearing a mask. 

Editor’s Note: * The name has been changed 

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