DATING & ROMANCE
There’s Still Room for Meet-Cutes in the Age of Swipes
Most daters meet each other online. With just one swipe, you’ll have a match sliding into your DMs in seconds. Pretty quick and convenient, right?
But even if online dating is ubiquitous, some can’t be bothered to sign up and swipe.
A survey by Bored of Dating Apps (BODA), an offline dating events organizer, reveals that 91% of participants prefer offline encounters to online ones. That’s quite a large number.
With that statistic, it’s safe to say offline romance isn’t dead. Events like meet-cutes still happen in the age of swipes.
The Enduring Allure of a Meet-Cute
A meet-cute is a scene, typically from a romantic comedy film, where two people meet under a cute or humorous circumstance that would lead to their love story.
Let’s paint a picture.
You’re alone at your go-to neighborhood coffee shop. You see a cutie a few tables from your spot and can’t take your eyes off them.
But before they catch you, you return your attention to your drink. You can sense them heading your way, even if you’re not looking at them anymore.
The next thing you know, you two are sitting at the same table and engaging in wholesome but flirty banter. You may end up as a couple if things go swimmingly.
Reality may not be as cinematic as the above scenario, but I’m sure you understand why so many want to experience one — the best meet-cutes feel like a great beginning to something special.
As cheesy as this sounds, there’s something about meeting someone serendipitously. There may not be scientific evidence of fate, but it pushes you and someone else together.
How to Make a Meet-Cute Happen
Fate may be pulling the strings, but you can put yourself in a position to make a meet-cute possible. Here’s how:
1. Go offline.
Real-life meet-cutes won’t happen if you stay glued to your phone. Dating apps may be a convenient safety net, but using them won’t do if you want to meet people in person. The (real) world is your oyster. Why not go out and explore it?
2. Make the most of being in a crowd.
Aside from having company, one great thing about group hangouts is the potential for extra connections. You can never tell whether you’ll meet a pal’s pal on a random night out. And who knows? That encounter may lead to the start of something new.
3. Be the protagonist you want to be.
Look, this is your love story. You have the pen, so take charge and shoot your shot. When you see someone who tickles your fancy, take a leap of faith and make the moment yours.
4. Bask in the joy.
A meet-cute isn’t perfect, but it’s supposed to be a fun experience. It’s a low-pressure situation that allows you to live in the present.
Enjoy every bit of that moment as it happens. Even if you and that other person don’t end up together, you at least have something pleasant to look back on.
Meet-cutes are still alluring in this age of online dating. You’re not wrong to want one for yourself.
Reference:
Bored of Dating Apps. 2024. “91% of People Would Prefer to Meet Offline Than Online.” Bored of Dating Apps. https://www.boredofdatingapps.com/91ofpeoplewouldprefertomeetofflinethanonline/.
