6 Reasons Dating Is So Hard in 2023
There probably hasn’t been a time in history when dating has been simple. While we may look at the past with rose-colored glasses—looking for a romantic partner requires a vulnerability that transcends time. However, dating in 2023 comes with its own set of struggles and difficulties. Dating in the digital age may leave you feeling helpless and frustrated. But you aren’t alone in this struggle. Here are six reasons why dating is so hard in 2023:
1. Plenty Of Options In The Sea
I’m not just talking about the old “plenty of fish in the sea!” phrase. Although let’s be honest, that does make it difficult, too. You are no longer limited by geography. Instead, we are talking about thousands of people on various dating apps such as Tinder or eHarmony. With prospects all across the country and even the world, it can be challenging to know where to begin.
Overwhelming? Yeah, just a bit.
2. Expectations Are Set High
If you’ve overcome the difficulty of being overwhelmed by dating apps, you could struggle with unreasonably high expectations. With so many potential partners readily accessible, there’s little stopping anyone from moving on when expectations aren’t met. It is important to have standards, but when you idealize a long list of preferred characteristics, you will miss out on valuing people for who they are and will be let down eventually.
3. Society Wants Us To Meet Certain Standards
While societal expectations have changed quite a bit—it’s been very slow going. One of the main expectations sets on anyone dating is that they have to be married or settled down with someone by a certain age. Or to be married with kids. Society places timelines on everything, and again—this is often an unrealistic and unreasonable expectation. Not everyone goes at the same pace or even wants the same thing.
4. Social Media Fuels The Fire—And Not In A Good Way!
Social media can bring people together and tear them apart. We live in a world where we have easy access to the people in our lives. But, this is just an illusion. We all see photos of happy dating couples and can sometimes feel discouraged when our own don’t look like that.
I say it’s an illusion because dating couples (or married, or singles, even) will only post the best parts of their lives. These perfect posts can leave us feeling like everyone’s life is better than ours. However, the truth is that social media doesn’t even scratch the surface.
5. You Never Know Who You’ll Meet
Ok, so you never quite fully knew who you could end up meeting, even before social media and technology. But, now, in 2023? Anyone can be anything they want to be online. And that can be downright scary. Social media, again, can put on an illusion. You can be anyone you want to be online much easier than you ever could before. It is a definite cause of distress.
6. Ghosting Someone Is Much Easier Today
Cutting bate and running has always been a get-out-of-dating tool. However, being ghosted can be devastating in its own way. Gone are the days when you wonder if you just missed a phone call or a stop-by. If you don’t hear from someone after a date, you know it’s not from a lack of communication outlet. Silence is deafening in the digital world.
How To Make Dating Easier
Dating might not ever get easier, but that doesn’t mean things need to be so difficult. Everyone has heard of couples counseling, but did you know that relationship counseling can help you as a single person? Navigating the dating world doesn’t have to be difficult, and you don’t have to try to figure it out on your own. Let me help you through this time by working on yourself so you can put your best foot out there.
