Corona Virus: From Cybersex to Rooftop Dinner, Dating Stories in Lockdown

Lock down is changing our dating habits
Dating is not an easy task even in the ordinary days, but what about today's situation when a quarter of the world's population lives in lock down because of the Corona virus?

People from China to the UK, Spain to India are distancing each other in society. But when people are trying to get to know each other better, unlike the current situation, they try to bridge the gap.

How dating and relationships are changing across the world in these situations. Five people shared stories of their closest relationship with us.

Warning: Forward-looking content mentions sex

Sufi: Age 27 years, Shanghai, China

Sufi is a mock name. The actual name has been changed at their request.

I broke up a relationship with my partner about a week before Lockdown in Wuhan. And then similar restrictions were enforced in many parts of China. No one knew that this would happen. In the beginning it was very difficult because I was facing the situation alone.

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Eventually I decided that I should use dating apps. This is how sitting in the apartment with my cat thought to swipe right and left on these apps and thus became a source of fun.

But despite the opportunities that came, it was difficult to move forward. I talk to boys for hours but how long can you talk without meeting anyone? All public places and restaurants are closed even if we can find a cafe that is open and we still have to wear a mask and this will make dating meaningless.

It looks like we are living in a hole and no one can enter it. It seems that it would be safe to touch someone and Akter heart also wants to go out and touch someone. When you have been dating someone for a long time and you know them, the situation is slightly different but as far as online dating is concerned, there are many obstacles caused by the virus.

How can you meet a stranger when you do not know that neither of you has the virus? This case is just as dangerous.

I have been waiting for a while now because I feel that things are not going well. To be honest, things do not seem to improve anytime soon, especially because we are hiding behind masks in our own shells.


Sufi says swiping on dating apps has become fun for them
Jeremy Cohen: age 28, Brooklyn, USA

To keep myself busy in Quarantina in my apartment, I began to draw a series of photos of people on the roofs of buildings around me.

A few days ago, I noticed a girl dancing on the roof of the building on the other side of the road. Seeing his enthusiasm, I was drawn to him and went to my balcony and started shaking hands at him. He also looked at me and shook his hand.

I felt a connection with him for that moment. And my heart wanted to contact him. Under unusual circumstances, we have to find unique solutions. I pulled out my drone and wrote my phone number on a piece of paper underneath it and took off the drone and landed on the girl's terrace. He sent me the text an hour later and then we started talking. I called her on a date and made it possible with her partner living in the flat.

She was on the roof of her building. One table with some alcohol and one meal. We have been on the Face Time video call during the entire update. We could see each other and shake hands from afar.

On the second date I approached him wearing a large balloon. I went as close as I could without crossing boundaries.


Jeremy delivered his number via drone to his neighbor
I kept posting my story on social media and it went viral. We are responding to interview requests together and as we get closer to each other.

All this would not have happened if there had not been a lockdown. There is no end to my happiness that I met such a good girl. I would never do this under normal circumstances. I think maybe being locked in a room made me want to connect with someone else and I found a unique way to make that possible.

Clarissa: Age 35, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
I was in a close relationship with someone before Cod 19 became a huge threat. I used to meet him every day but didn't want to move forward with a whole lot of emotion. I wanted to talk slowly, but who could have said that things would be the same.

DRC was not in lock down at the time, but I was connected to the medical field for humanitarian sympathy. I took the virus seriously. He got angry at me and I stopped meeting him for four weeks and explained to him why it was important. But he thinks I want to get away with it by making it an excuse.

I miss him and Aktor think I have missed this opportunity to include someone in my life forever. I'm afraid he won't wait for me. I also miss the physical proximity.