This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Fainite Auguste. Find her on Instagram at @ceilingdancing. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
The early 2000s was the peak of romcoms, filled with cheesy romance, and surface-level drama that inevitably led to the third act breakup. They all start with a meet-cute and end with a happily ever after, usually a wedding. I was one of the many kids hoping that my love life would follow the romcom tropes. But life isn’t a romcom, and that’s ok. Can a meet cute happen online?
What is a Meet-Cute?
A meet-cute is the first interaction between two characters for the first time and are instantly attracted to each other. You’ve seen it before in some form of media. If it’s set in high school, the two strangers bump into each other in the hallway and the books come falling down. In a more adult romcom, two love interests could meet at work, on a train, or in a bar. After a quippy conversation, they’re completely smitten.
With the cost of living rising seemingly every day, it’s becoming incredibly difficult to go out and spend money to meet new people. Dating apps are a reasonable alternative.
Online Love and Friendships
If you fall under the Zillennial category, you probably had an online friend on websites like Tumblr and Twitter when you were a teenager or tween. Unless you did your due diligence on those websites you didn’t know who you were talking to. And if you weren’t online as a kid you definitely heard horror stories of catfishing occurring.
Now that society as a whole is equipped to make online interactions safer, we as consumers better understand internet safety. Established dating apps like Tinder and Bumble require users to verify their Profiles through phone numbers. Tinder also has ID photo verification to avoid catfishing. Christian dating app platforms are also emerging, offering values-based matchmaking options for faith-driven singles.
Dating apps have become synonymous with “u up?” texts and situationships that lead to embarrassment and heartbreak. Many people do indeed download dating apps for no-strings-attached hookups. But this is not an absolute; famously the professional football player Jason Kelce and his wife Kylie Kelce met on Tinder. From what the world can see; the two are happily married with three children.
Meet-cutes are overrated
The meet-cute has oddly morphed into a story to tell other people rather than something to remember for yourself. . And would you rather have a good story or a relationship? A simple text saying “hi” and asking about how someone’s semester is going is more than enough for an online meet-cute. In person meet-cutes are too quick, it’s like a mission; with the goal of getting the person to agree to a date. It is more than the immediate sparks that fly; who are they beyond the place you met them? For example in the cult classic “500 Days of Summer,” Tom falls for Summer in the 30 seconds of knowing her. He’s obsessed with her, but he doesn’t really know her.
Similarly in the TV Show Sex And The City, Charlotte and Trey meet dramatically and are completely enthralled. But as they start dating Charlotte sees they aren’t very compatible, but decides to ignore it, and marries him.
They Said Yes to a Date Now What?
What I’ve learned through personal experience is that first dates are more important to build up a relationship. You both swiped right, you know you like each other, what’s the rush? On my first with my now girlfriend, I wanted to keep the conversation going for hours which we did. My advice: get to know each other before you start planning the dream wedding in your head!
Can a meet cute happen online? Have you ever experienced a meet-cute? Did it go any further? Let us know!
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