By Abby Rathburn | Staff Writer
A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, asking someone out was simple. Well, maybe not that long ago, and definitely not in a galaxy far away. Believe it or not, the very act of asking someone out likely occurred right here on this college campus.
Nowadays, instead of seeing someone and getting to know them in person, we flock to our devices and dig through their social media profiles in search of online identities that reveal who they are.
That process is entirely misleading. Everything someone puts online is what they want others to see. Whether that be curating an Instagram grid or perfecting a dating profile, social media gives people the opportunity to present themselves as an idealized version of their true selves.
Although many people are selective with what they post, others create profiles that are deliberately hidden or incorrect. According to the eSafety Commissioner website, anonymity is a factor that has been used “by those who seek to harm or abuse others online.”
Regardless if what’s put online is intentionally misleading or not, a social media profile can never truly tell you the kind of person someone is. But the problem isn’t that people curate themselves; it’s that others are basing their opinions of people on what they see online.
From this, our whole approach to dating has changed. Instead of meeting someone and deciding if we like them through conversations, we often decide if someone is worth getting to know well before ever even introducing ourselves.
According to the Institute of Family Studies, young adults are currently undergoing a dating recession. In a 2026 national survey, nearly 71% of women and 64% of men stated they were not in a relationship or currently dating. Despite this apparent retreat from dating, more than half of both men and women expressed interest in starting a relationship.
Unfortunately, today’s dating environment has made approaching someone seem unnecessarily risky. We are so used to checking up on people online, asking mutual friends and using roundabout methods to gauge interest before ever putting ourselves in a position to get rejected.
Naturally, we avoid awkward or embarrassing situations. Having had this conversation many times with friends, some people don’t want to approach someone because they don’t want it to seem weird or creepy.
Although it may be very difficult, we need to get the idea that asking someone out is inherently creepy out of our heads. The true problem is that we have made the first step of asking someone out on a date so high-stakes that people would rather resort to anything else than risk receiving a “no.”
This is wrong. Dating should involve trial and error. Go on a casual date. Talk to them. Maybe you click with them; maybe you don’t.
Not every first date needs to lead somewhere. Sometimes the entire point of a date is to realize what you want or don’t want in a significant other.
Luckily, it’s not hopeless. According to CNBC, going offline is going viral. Ironically, “there’s been a surge of TikTok videos of people vowing to delete social media apps in 2026 and engage more with in-person and analog hobbies.”
A growing desire to disconnect might just be what modern dating needs. I’m not saying we should all start tossing our phones out the window, but if we start recognizing the value of putting our phones down more often in all parts of our lives, just maybe we can transform dating as well.
So, the next time you see someone you’re interested in, take a chance, and May the Force be with you.
