Love digitally

"Singles continue to assess what matters to them when it comes to finding a new partner or entering a new relationship," she says. "We see this as a positive trend, as people are being more upfront about their approach to dating, and keeping an open mind to all the possibilities out there."

Planning to stay optimistic and open-minded during lockdown is one thing, however; keeping the mindset going, quite another. Dr Quratulain Zaidi, a clinical psychologist at MindnLife, a private psychology practice, says that while the pandemic has fostered a return to more traditional forms of wooing, too much swiping has contributed to widespread loneliness. A 2016 study by the American Psychological Association found that male Tinder users had lower self-esteem, while all users reported more negative perceptions of their body and looks, compared with non-users.

Cyrus Chan (real name withheld on request) says in his five years of swiping on apps, he's experienced the greatest fear of rejection during the pandemic. "If one or two people rejected me pre-COVID, it didn't matter because I could keep swiping. But during the pandemic, I can't go out to meet (dates), so engagement is already at an all-time low," he notes. "I've been fortunate to have roommates to keep me company, but once I go back to my room and start swiping, it's quite depressing."

Getting out there

Despite pointing out their disadvantages, both Zaidi and Chan acknowledge the continuing importance of apps.

"Dating apps give you a reason to go out and meet people: they are platforms that source encounters," notes Chan. Zaidi says finding new companions - even superficial ones through an app - helps meet people's need for certainty at an uncertain time.