Is it becoming increasingly difficult for singles to find a Valentine's date?

You would think: with a little hanging out in the pub, you would score a flamboyant date for Valentine's Day within two minutes. Not so.

Have women unlearned true flirting?That's what researchers from dating app The Inner Circle are wondering now, because the numbers don't lie. Sixty percent of women do not dare to take the first step in real-life flirting, according to new research. Three out of four singles would like to meet someone, but yes, saying something (out loud) to that cute person across from you at the bar, we don't do that. We're afraid. And we wait a bit sheepishly. One in four female singles has never shown initiative, and ten percent of single men have never approached someone. We are open to scoring a date without the help of an app, that's true, but we all do nothing. The reason? We don't want to be rejected or look foolish. So that's going well.

I can still remember the times of flirting like it was yesterday. Admittedly: I was always just a bit better at the game of games after a glass or three of wine. But still. I believe I have indeed talked to someone out of my own initiative, there in those Amsterdam pubs. Maybe more often than once.

David Vermeulen, co-founder of The Inner Circle, I think is proud of me: “It's a shame that singles are taking less and less initiative. Only in real life do you discover whether there is a connection or not. That's why we advise singles not to text endlessly, but to meet up quickly.” But we suddenly find flirting difficult, in 2020, when we have to do it without the help of our phones. Twenty percent of men indicate that they are not sure about their flirting skills, while for women that is 25 percent.

Sorry. But... Put on your best outfit, drag your fun friend along as a wingman, and hop off to the first best pub in your area. Or go to a sports club. A restaurant. A tea house. And talk to others there. It's not that hard to talk, right? You don't have to go on a world trip with that person after one conversation. Look, here's the thing – and now the psychologist in me speaks – don't worry so much about approaching someone: you actually have nothing to lose when chatting with someone you don't know, because you don't know that person anyway. And if it's a dull conversation and it doesn't click even a little, you'll never see that person again. And if it's fun and you think: well, how about we go to Bali together next year, then sure. And then it will turn out fine.

Love is very simple. But if you're sitting at home on the couch with Netflix and only talking to your cat, well, then this Valentine's Day won't happen either.

You've never had such an excuse to go chat in the pub, right? Go get ‘em, tigers.

Source: The Inner Circle