Due to the impacts of the COVID pandemic, social media and shifting societal trends, high school dating has changed significantly over time, leaving few ARHS students in romantic relationships. 

According to a Harbinger survey of 141 students conducted through Google Forms from Dec. 12 to Dec. 17, 22% of respondents say that they are currently in a romantic relationship. The remaining 78% are all single, and more than half of them are interested in navigating the world of teen dating. So, why are there significantly more single students than couples at ARHS? 

The lingering effects of COVID may play a factor in why there are less high school relationships. According to the survey, 45% of students believe that COVID made a small negative impact on teen dating today. 

Senior Patrick Biamou thinks COVID had an impact on how teens communicate. 

“Coming from quarantine, not a lot of people knew how to communicate to people in person anymore,” Biamou said. “Physically, you weren’t able to see people as much, and psychologically you were just communicating through a phone, so you really weren’t having those in person conversations. You weren’t having those eye contact moments, so I feel like psychologically that messes up people.” 

Senior Zach Strauss agrees COVID had an impact. 

“I think a lot of people might have lost confidence to go out there and actually, physically approach a girl or guy,” Strauss said. “I’d say a lot of people are afraid now.” 

According to the Harbinger survey, many students don’t want to take the risk to put themselves out there. When asked “Would you be willing to make the first move on someone you’re interested in dating?” 50% of respondents replied with “no.” 

“It’s hard to be able to put yourself out there so openly like that,” one survey respondent said. 

Another respondent wrote, “Fear of rejection.”

Making the “first move” doesn’t have to be a huge romantic gesture; it can be something as small as shooting the first text or planning a time to get together. Why do people tend to shy away? 

Junior Mackenzie Rafferty thinks it has to do with our generation’s reliance on phones. 

“I feel like no one really knows how to have a relationship because everyone just texts everyone instead of going up to them in person,” Rafferty said. “When you think of a relationship, that’s the first thing you think of; not texting, just in-person conversation. Everyone texts one another instead of socially interacting.” 

Another contributing factor as to why there are less high school relationships is due to social media. Health and Fitness teacher Melissa Arvanigian believes social media has created harmful comparisons and standards. 

“There are so many moving avenues to post [on social media] and for the world to see,” Arvanigian said. “I think your generation is under so much scrutiny because of your location and Snapchat and status, every move you make can become easily public.”

Perhaps another explanation as to why there aren’t as many genuine relationships at school is due to “hookup culture.” Thirty-seven percent of respondents believe that hookups are more prominent than committed relationships at ARHS.

“It seems like people hook up with people just to hook up,” Arvinigian said. “If you are mature enough to be having sexual relations, you should be really mature enough to handle what comes along with it, and this can really be heavy.”

Senior Drew Burzumato believes hookup culture is arguably the leading cause as to why teens are not willing to commit to a serious relationship.

“I think both men and women in our generation have a lot of trouble settling down and staying loyal to people,” Burzumato said. “A lot of men don’t want to settle down with girls because there’s such a standard on women and how beautiful women should be, so [most] men believe that their girlfriend should look like that. They like to constantly think that there’s someone better.”

Despite the negative impacts of COVID, social media and hookup culture, there’s still hope for teen dating today. Well over half of the students (59%) are willing and seeking to share a deeper connection with someone during their time in high school. 

“It’s definitely a lot harder to find somebody that’s right for you these days, but if you focus on yourself and you improve yourself, then you will eventually find somebody,” Strauss said. 

“If done right, [teen dating] can be a wonderful thing,” Biamou said. “People do genuinely care for each other, and if you find a person that is willing to communicate with you, talk to you and be all about you, then it’s a beautiful thing to have.”

Biamou believes that teen relationships are something that should come naturally, but are also worth taking a risk on. 

“It’s something people should truly respect and cherish,” Biamou said. “If you have [a relationship], lucky for you, and if you don’t have it, it’s not something you should search for; it comes at the right time. It’s a really cool thing, and it’s an experience I think everyone should have if you really care for someone…if you want something, you gotta go for it.” 

Strauss added, “You can’t wait, what are you waiting for?”