Swipe right - Gen Z dates (or tries to)
90% of Gen Z are completely fed up with dating apps. Are we surprised?
I think not.
Despite this statistic being vaguely miserable, I think it is a comfort to know that other Gen Z'ers are in the same boat, which is a boat most likely filled with cheap corner shop wine and a sense of dread which arises every time you open Tinder to trawl through the weekly pickings.
I believe there is a common mis conception when it comes to Gen Z. Upon asking members of the boomer generation, Gen Z are often and stereotypically summed up as tech-absorbed reprobates that have no interest in the world around them. However, I feel like this could not be further from the truth.
Generation Z comprises of a group of hopeless romantics that are so sick of digital dating that we all wish we could time travel back to the era portrayed in The Notebook.
After considering this, I thought there was no better way to spend my Friday night than sat in my favourite dimly lit wine bar, in my favourite creaky seat with my favourite battered-up book.
Seated next to me were two friends, deeply engrossed in conversation surrounding their daily purchases from the local record shop. I decided to ask them about their experiences with dating. They warmly laughed, and both declared that they were in relationships, yet preceded to tell me that based upon their past experiences with the dreaded apps, that all men were ‘delusional’ - a slightly sweeping but humorous statement. Upon explaining, they said they felt the app-based experience felt hyper-real, and the human connection seemed to be lost in the subconscious mind set that app members were just characters in their phone, less actual humans with emotions and back stories.
We giggled as we likened it to having sims, or a tamagotchi. As they gathered their bags to leave, however, the girls quipped that they both have cousins who recently got married, one cousin who met their partner on Hinge, and the other pair who met on Tinder - singletons, there is hope for us yet!
Based upon the lacklustre experience the majority of us are clearly obtaining from dating apps, here are four York-based events I have compiled in the hopes that we can meet like-minded individuals in person.
- Cellar Door Wine Tasting - Situated just outside of York, Cellar Door offers experiences to sample their wines, accompanied by nibbles. The best part? You can stay as long as you’d like, which is perfect if you are socialising.
- Speed dating - Hosted at Manahatta, York’s favourite speed dating event groups participants into age categories, and sends you any successful matches via email within 48 hours.
- York Book Club - If booze isn’t your thing, York Book Club offers an opportunity to meet up with a group of like-minded people, to discuss books, life and more.
- Open Mic Night - Every Thursday from 9pm Kennedy's York hosts their famous open-mic night. This event is absolutely free, and you can arrive at whatever time you’d like. Bonus points - the food at Kennedy's is to die for.
The rest now, unfortunately, is up to you! It may seem hard to believe, but lots of Gen Z singles will most likely be as nervous to strike up a conversation with you as you are with them. So, go forth with confidence, and enjoy! If extra moral support is needed, take your bestie. At the end of the day, no-one knows you better than the friends that endure the weekly run down of your dating triumphs and disasters. If all else fails, head back to that corner shop, grab that cheap wine, and remember, there are plenty more fish in the sea.
