对不少单身人士来说，疫情可能为他们的相亲脱单之路增添了诸多烦恼。
据外媒报道，在今年2月进行的一项调查中，有七成的单身人士表示他们的约会进行得并不顺利。
Now, most single men and women say the pandemic has made dating even harder. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in February of this year, 7 in 10 single adults said their dating lives were not going well.
很多单身人士表示，疫情让约会相亲变得难上加难。在皮尤研究中心今年2月进行的一项调查中，有七成的单身人士表示他们的约会进行得并不顺利。
图源：东方IC
而与此同时，在后疫情时代（post-pandemic era），不少人相亲约会的方式也正在发生着变化。
First dates used to be about drinks, maybe dinner. But post-pandemic singles are opting for low-key options that allow them to ‘screen’ potential partners.
过去，人们的初次约会可能是一起喝点儿什么，或是共进晚餐。但如今，不少单身人士选择用更低调的方式以视频来“筛选”潜在伴侣。
图源：Getty Images
据外媒报道，某领先约会软件的研究人员表示，近年来视频约会正呈“爆炸式”增长。
The rise – and subsequent staying power – of video first-dates is perhaps one of the biggest post-pandemic dating trends, and a key indicator people are looking for a first date that slots more easily into their schedule.
以视频进行初次约会这一约会方式的兴起和其影响力可能让其成为后疫情时代中最流行的约会方式之一，这种形式也能让人们更容易将初次约会安排在自己的日程表中。
图源：东方IC
疫情期间的种种限制给了广大单身人士“慢下来”的时间。不同于过去快节奏的随意约会（date casually），大家对待感情的态度也认真了许多。
Data shows post-pandemic singles are more serious about looking for love. Fifty-eight percent of daters have shifted towards intentional dating, and Sixty-two percent have become more interested in a meaningful, committed relationship.
数据显示，在后疫情时代，单身人士对待感情的态度变得更加认真。58%的人开始有目的性地进行约会，而62%的人开始对一段有意义的、忠诚的关系更感兴趣。
图源：Giphy
33岁的Louise是一个约会经验颇为丰富的人（prolific dater）。现在的她则表示“不想把时间花在随意的、不走心的相亲约会上” 。她指出，自己会花些时间通过诸如视频通话的方式先了解对方，看看对方和自己合不合拍。
"I don’t want to waste my time on pointless, mindless dates – I want them to be fun, and with someone I genuinely want to get to know better. So, I make sure that I take the time to get to know someone first, to make sure that we’re on the same page."
同样，单身人士John Junior也表示，自己会在同意和相亲对象见面之前进行视频通话，确保对方是自己喜欢的类型，“我可以看看我们是否合得来，他们是否真的有兴趣。”
"I can see if we are compatible and if they really are keen. "
图源：Getty Images
目前，并没有明确的证据表明这种低成本的“预约会”（low-stakes pre-date）方式能带来更加持久的亲密关系。
美国执业心理学家Kate表示，这种约会方式的出现是正常的。疫情期间的种种限制让人们放慢节奏，反思自己在疫情之前的快节奏生活。“预约会”的兴起也是在过去几年发展的“慢节奏”和“目的性”约会这一广泛趋势中的一部分。
Kate Balestrieria, a licensed psychologist based in the US, says this was a common reaction to lockdowns, which forced people to confront how fast-paced their lives were pre-pandemic. She says the rise of the pre-date is part of a broader trend towards so-called “slow” or “intentional” dating that has developed over the last couple of years.
她说，“疫情让人们重新认识到什么才是对自己重要的事情。对许多人来说，把时间花在不适合自己的人身上是不值得的。”
"Going through the pandemic has left people with a renewed sense of what is important to them, and allocating time on people who are not a good fit is no longer a noteworthy endeavour for many,"says Balestrieri.
你会选择什么样的约会方式呢？
编辑：李金昳
实习生：房晓玥
来源：BBC Refinery92 Newshub
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