Guide-to-Read: 2nd article - EoE172 19.30-21.30 Wed May 13, 2020



Guide-to-Read: 2nd article - EoE172 19.30-21.30 Wed May 13, 2020

Title: Fever when you hold me tight - Casual Sex is out, companionship is in - Lockdowns are forcing singletons to embrace emotional intimacy https://www.economist.com/node/21785946?frsc=dg%7Ce

(1) Three-sentence Summary (TSS)

 The more increased use of dating apps such as Tinder is one of the significant changes introduced by COVID-19.

 Despite the gradual increases in the use of dating apps, more serious singletons use the virtual dating services are making the business prosper inducing the addition of video chat functions into those apps.

 Having deeper, kinder, more responsive conversations through virtual dating apps show Millenials' desire for companionship free from having casuals sex, some experts suggest.

(2) One-sentence Summary by Paragraph (OSP)

1 & 2. Before and after COVID-19, how to meet romantic partners as a singleton

3. Thanks to the pandemic, looking for love was more active on the internet in many countries.

4. Even before the pandemic, the use of Tinder has increased popularity steadily.

5. Many dating apps enjoyed the significantly increased number of users after the pandemic.

6. Before COVID-19, users were bothered by their experiences of the app because of the easily changed minds of their conversation partners.

7. The pandemic made the conversation much longer.

8. Also, the pandemic world made users more courageous to show their faces and meet others in person.

9. Zoom made people favorable for video chatting. Bumble, one of the competitor introduced video chat function while others such as FB dating and Tinders are following.

10. In video conversations, with less distraction, more conversation skills are required.

11. Millennials desire companionship but some feel pressured about casual sex.

12. Isolations made people kinder and more responsive, easier to have deeper conversations.

13. As long as lockdown exists, the increased use of dating apps will last.

(3) Questions: Things to ponder (TTP)

Q1 Would you use dating apps such as Tinder if you were a singleton? Would you marry someone you met on dating apps?

Q2 Do you see the business viability of those dating apps in Korea?

* expressions

shepherding: leading, directing

on tap: already ready, always available

Lagos: the capital city of Nigeria

fickleness: whimsicalness, being easy to change minds

vexing: disturbing, annoying, bothering

Pew: a research centre

wary: cautious of