It’s been almost 50 years since Freddie Mercury belted out “Can anybody find me somebody to love?” but the Queen song hits way harder in the era of dating apps, algorithm-driven soulmates, and emotionally unavailable “situationships.”
It’s 2025, and we’re supposedly more connected than ever, but more people are saying that they feel lonelier, more burnt out, and unsure of what dating is even supposed to look like anymore. It’s like we’ve got all of the right tools, but they forget to give us the user manual.
Why does dating feel so much harder now? What has changed in the last few years, and how can you keep dating without completely losing your mind or abandoning your search for love? Let’s get into it!
Swipe Fatigue: Too Many Choices, Too Little Connection
If dating apps were designed to make things easier, then why do they feel like a part-time job that you didn’t want or apply for?
We have access to more potential partners than any generation before us, but with that comes the paradox of choice. The endless scrolling makes everyone feel like they’re always one more swipe away from someone slightly hotter, slightly funnier, and slightly more emotionally available. And although that might be true, it’s usually not.
Dating apps are great for the dopamine hit, but not so much with the human connection. And just like when we are doom-scrolling through social media, app-based dating begins to feel like a game that you’re losing on purpose. Most people aren’t even engaging anymore; they’re just swiping out of boredom, habit, or the dopamine rush. If you’re wondering why nothing sticks, it might be because nobody’s actually trying to make it stick!
Ghosting, Breadcrumbing, and Emotional Inconsistency
Welcome to dating in 2025, where “talking” can go on for two months, and then you never hear from them again.
Ghosting used to be kinda shocking. But now? It’s baked into the dating app experience. Add breadcrumbing to the mix, aka sending just enough attention to keep you hanging on, and you’ve got a landscape where emotional inconsistency is the norm. Nobody knows if they’re dating, hooking up, talking, or merely auditioning for a spot in someone’s backup roster.
Even the people who are genuinely looking for real connection end up stuck in these weird gray zones where nobody defines anything because defining it means risking vulnerability, and we’re all way too cool (read: scared) for that now.
The Rise of AI and Dating Filters
Not only is technology getting smarter, it’s getting scarier. And adding AI (artificial intelligence) into dating profiles isn’t doing a great job of making things more human. It’s doing the opposite.
Newer dating apps promise to use AI to find you a “better” match. That all sounds good, but does it make dating feel like you’re shopping for a romantic partner on Amazon Prime or Etsy? Kinda.
AI-based filtering can help narrow down the field, but it also encourages people to curate their profiles like personal brands. The result? More “ideal” photos, witty-but-copied bios, and filtered expectations. Dating starts to feel less like meeting someone new and more like you’re building a customizable avatar.
We’re outsourcing instinct to algorithms and wondering why we feel so disconnected.
Post-Pandemic Shifts and Delayed Relationships
COVID didn’t just mess with our immune systems. It totally messed with our timelines, too!
A lot of people lost two critical years of dating, socializing, and building relationships. Some had to put off major life milestones like moving in with a romantic partner or starting a family. Then there were those who realized that they needed therapy, alone time, or a hard reset on what they want from life.
So in 2025, people are dating with all new priorities: protecting their peace, putting mental health first, or reveling in their independence. But that means that everyone’s showing up in startlingly different headspaces, and it’s really hard to sync up when one person’s casually swiping and the other is wondering about the best school districts and 401(k)s.
Economic Pressures and Lifestyle Gaps
Nothing can kill the mood like the cost of living.
Inflation, rising rent, and job precarity are all very real problems, and they extend to dating. When people are stressed out about money, they’re less likely to commit, move in, or even go on regular dates because they can’t afford to.
And the gap between daters with stability and those who are still trying to find their footing? It’s a huge chasm. If your idea of a “normal weekend” is a $300 getaway and your date’s still budgeting for Uber Eats, that’s not only awkward, it’s a fundamental lifestyle mismatch. These kinds of differences didn’t used to matter as much, but now, with the economy squeezing everyone, they’re impossible to ignore.
Are Our Standards Too High… or Too Vague?
Are you being a little bit too selective, or are you dead set on finding a Pinterest version of a person who doesn’t exist?
There’s a growing cultural narrative that we should “manifest” our perfect romantic partner, and somehow, someway, they’ll show up emotionally available, funny, secure, adventurous, tall, rich, and ready for commitment. No pressure or anything! The problem with that is that a lot of people have vague expectations that have been fueled by TikTok therapists and Instagram couples who treat their relationship like it’s a brand collab.
At the same time, dating apps do encourage endless nitpicking: height, job title, Spotify taste. We forget that real connection usually looks less like a checklist and more like patience and compromise. You know, the boring grown-up stuff that no one wants to post about.
So…Can Anybody Really Find Somebody to Love in 2025?
Of course, anybody can find love again! It just might not be in the way you think you can find it.
Finding love in 2025 isn’t mission impossible, but you do have to be intentional about it. It takes pushing back against the idea that you need to be endlessly available, always perfect, and constantly swiping. Real connection has always existed, but it means you have to unplug from the rest long enough to notice it.
Here’s how to make it feel doable again:
- Use dating apps with a purpose. Niche platforms based on values (religion, lifestyle, politics) are better for finding real connections than the most popular ones.
- Swipe less, talk more. Ten good conversations are better than a hundred mindless matches.
- Know your non-negotiables and deal breakers, but throw out your vision board. Be real about it, not unrealistic.
- Take breaks. No one is capable of being romantic when they’re burnt out and full of resentment toward their phone.
Final Thoughts: From Lyrics to Real Life
“Can anybody find me somebody to love?” is an apt question in 2025, but instead of the OG Queen version, it’s a modern cover of the song. It’s less of a desperate plea and more of a gentle reminder: love is still out there, but you have to look for it, be honest, and be a little braver to find it.
Dating now takes more patience, more emotional availability, and more realism than we’re used to. But it doesn’t mean you should give up! The rules have been rewritten, but you aren’t failing. You’re adapting.
So, close out of that dating app for a while, reconnect with what you really want, and don’t rely on Freddie Mercury to jumpstart your love life.
