First Years Embrace Dating Apps to Compensate for Loss of In-Person Socialization During Pandemic
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STUDENTSTUDENTSTUDENT LOVELOVELOVE Sex Issue 2021 2 STUDSEARCH EM MCPHIE & TED MOSKAL | SENIOR NEWS EDITORS | [email protected] THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 NUDES First years embrace dating apps to compensate for loss of in-person socialization during pandemic RIDA QURESHI semester,” freshman Abigail ‘meet-cute,’ as COVID-19 When it comes to which culture.” explicit photos and a par- CONTRIBUTING REPORTER Matthews, whose experi- cases on campus rise, social dating app freshmen prefer, “Tinder is like being in ticularly racist pick-up line, ence spans Tinder, Bumble distancing guidelines have the answer will vary, but a bar, where you’re just she turned her attention to As the weather worsens and Hinge, said. rendered in-person inter- most began their online dat- going off looks,” Matthews Bumble, where women mes- and more classes embrace Though all three apps actions like these unsafe. ing experience on the one said. While casual rela- sage their matches first. virtual formats, the chances hit the market over five Moreover, for those coming app that seems to domi- tionships are certainly “It empowers me to of finding one’s soul- years ago, online dating from smaller hometowns nate the University’s dating common in a normal aca- choose who I interact mate this semester seem has seen a noticeable uptick such as freshman Tanner scene. demic year, COVID-fears with,” Núñez-Enriquez slim to many—but several since the onset of the pan- Smith, they report that “When students think have pushed many away said. She commended dating apps have helped demic in March of 2020. quarantine restrictions on online dating, they think from hookups and more Bumble’s thought-provok- Washington University In fact, prior to the pan- a large college campus can Tinder,” Smith said. “If toward long-term commit- ing prompts and holistic freshmen find love. demic, freshman Rosalinda feel just as limiting as a you want the most results ments. For Matthews, this profiles. Nonetheless, Apps such as Tinder, Núñez-Enriquez had a small high school. in our age range, you go to meant deleting Tinder and Núñez-Enriquez said how Bumble, Hinge and Grindr very different expectation “I’m from a tiny-ass Tinder.” transitioning to Hinge, an Bumble’s heteronormative offer students an opportu- for what the dating scene town,” Smith said. “It In terms of filters and application with prompts practice of women mes- nity to mingle with people might look like on a college was exciting to think I’d features, Tinder’s offerings such as, “A shower thought saging men caused her to in their area by asking them campus. be around so many peo- are simple: name, age, a I had recently had was…” see Tinder’s as more inclu- to approve or deny potential “I really thought I was ple and have options. But collection of pictures and and “Can you name where sive to the LGBTQIA* matches. Although the fea- going to have a meet-cute,” with the pandemic, noth- a 500-character bio with this picture was taken?” community. tures vary by platform, most Núñez-Enriquez said. “I’m ing’s changed. I stick to unlimited creative freedom. “Everybody that I’ve Ultimately, dating apps apps allow users to pick a walking on campus with my pod—there’s no blank Though its simplicity cer- talked to with Hinge has vary widely in the types of preferred age range, set a some books in hand. Oops! slate.” tainly prevents boredom ended up deleting it because relationships they attract, maximum distance and fil- I bump into somebody. My Smith further explained while swiping, some fresh- they met somebody on the the complexity of their pro- ter by gender. The more a books fall. We both reach that dating apps have sky- men say they have found app. That’s not the case files and the diversity of user interacts with the app, down at the same time. Zap! rocketed in popularity fault with its heavy reliance with Tinder,” Matthews their users. However, their the more information its Love at first sight, right?” among his social circle this on physical appearance. said. popularity on campus this algorithm can use to curate While many Washington semester due to the oppor- In fact, Smith, Núñez- Núñez-Enriquez, too, semester results from one better matches. University students might tunity they present to meet Enriquez and Matthews left Tinder in search of a uniting factor: a chance at “Dating has definitely share Núñez-Enriquez’s students outside of one’s all described Tinder using more serious connection. connection in a time of iso- entered the digital age this idea of the perfect friend group. the same phrase: “hookup After receiving multiple lation and separation. 2021 sex survey reveals WU students’ sex habits TED MOSKAL University students com- conflicted about what me longer than 5 minutes, respondents said that they 76% “always” using pro- SENIOR NEWS EDITOR pleted the survey. exactly constitutes a we’re dating.” considered vaginal penetra- tection that prevents 35% of respondents said relationship, with 76% The survey included tion as sex, 76% considered pregnancy and 42% using The results of Student that they were in a rela- agreeing that a relationship responses from people anal penetration, 49% protection that prevents Life’s 2021 sex survey tionship and 56% said they involved establishing girl- representing a variety of considered oral sex and STIs. Nine percent of stu- show that 71% of respon- were not, while the remain- friend/boyfriend/partner sexualities and gender 26% considered manual dents said that they never dents have had sex, the ing 9% chose to avoid titles, 62% saying exclusiv- identities. 65% of respon- stimulation as sex. Of the use protection that prevents same result as the 2020 labels, saying “It’s compli- ity (agreeing not to date dents reported that they respondents who reported pregnancy, 5% said that survey and a decrease from cated.” 62% of respondents other people), 34% saying were heterosexual, 19% having sex, the frequency they never use protection the 2019 and 2018 surveys, reported having been in going on dates, 15% say- were bisexual, 6% were of sexual activity ranged that prevents STIs and 19% which yielded respective one relationship in college, ing moving in together, questioning, 6% were from multiple times a day said that they have been rates of 74% and 75%. while 22% reported two 9% saying hooking up homosexual, 5% were to less than one time a year. tested for STIs and are in On average, survey relationships, 10% reported and 8% saying making it queer, 3% were asexual The most common answer, a committed relationship, respondents estimated three relationships, 3% “Facebook official.” Other and 2% were pansexual. however, was two to three and therefore have chosen that 64% of Washington reported four relationships responses included “com- 54% of respondents identi- times a week, which 25% not to use protection for University students have and only 2% reported not mitment with the intention fied as cisgender women, of respondents said was STIs. had sex. being in a relationship dur- of marriage,” “just vib- 40% as cisgender men, 3% accurate. The exact type of pro- Between jan. 14 and ing college. ing with someone,” and as nonbinary, 1% as gender 38% of respondents tection used by students Feb. 10, 781 Washington Respondents were also “anytime a man looks at nonconforming, 1% as gen- reported having been and their sexual partners derqueer, 0.52% as trans tested for an STI, while varied, with 79% of respon- female/trans women and 5% reported having had an dents using male condoms, 0.39% as trans male/trans STI. 52% using hormonal birth men. During sex, Washington control, 28% using the Respondents also had University students gen- “pull-out method,” 25% differing opinions on the erally prefer to use some using an IUD and 12% exact nature of sex. 97% of type of protection, with using a morning after pill. STUDENTSTUDENTSTUDENT LOVELOVELOVE Sex Issue 2021 Front cover by HN Hoffmann 2021 VOLUME 142, STUDENT LOVE Emma Baker Kya Vaughn Curran Neenan Sabrina Spence Jamila Dawkins Copyright © 2021 Washington Editor-in-Chief Senior Forum Editor Senior Photo Editor Social Media Director Forum Editor University Student Media, [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Inc. (WUSMI). Student Life Nathan Springman Adrienne Levin Coleman is a financially and editorially Matthew Friedman Dorian DeBose JJ Coley Webmaster General Manager independent, student-run Associate Editor Josh Shapiro Isabella Neubauer [email protected] newspaper serving the Senior Sports Editors Copy Chiefs Grace Kennard Washington University Jayla Butler [email protected] [email protected] Julia Robbins Tammy Dunsford community. Our newspaper is Kya Vaughn Orli Sheffey Advertising Sales Supervisor a publication of WUSMI and Managing Editors Isabella Neubauer Vivienne Chang News Editors [email protected] does not necessarily represent Sabrina Spence Kathleen White the views of the Washington Em McPhie Senior Cadenza Editors Directors of Engagement Christine Watridge University administration. Ted Moskal [email protected] Jaime Lee Senior News Editors HN Hoffmann Spencer Linenberg [email protected] Mia Goldberg Jaden Satenstein Kamala Madireddi Design Chief Christine Watridge Clara Richards Benjamin Simon [email protected] Multimedia Editors Designers Senior Scene Editor [email protected] THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 3 STUDSEARCH BENJAMIN SIMON | SENIOR SCENE EDITOR | [email protected] THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 SQUIRTS From psychology major to pornstar: The most famous WU alum you don’t know BENJAMIN SIMON felt like she could never catch SENIOR SCENE EDITOR up. At one point, Love even resorted to dumpster diving. When Larkin Love applied “[Wash. U.] would build to Washington University, she some new building or throw didn’t know a single soul in some pointless party and I’m the state of Missouri.