By Kayleen Lopez
Being a college student in modern times is an entirely different experience than even ten years ago. Social Media and Technology have taken the dating scene into a new era. Everything is online, and the younger generation has been completely thrown into this setting.
There are too many options regarding online dating. There are hundreds of apps one person can download to connect with people in their community, city, state, and country.
According to several sources, the term “hookup” can apply to many casual forms of sexual intimacy, anything from, pardon my French, kissing to oral, vaginal, or anal sex, and everything in between.
A hookup is brief and can last from a few minutes to several hours over a single night. The hookup may be a drunken makeout on the dance floor or involve sleeping over and taking the so-called “walk of shame” in the morning. A hookup is intended to be purely physical and involves both parties shutting down any communication or connection that might lead to emotional attachment.
Picture this: you’re in college and meet a girl who makes you feel warm and fuzzy. You guys talk and decide that you both want to take things back to your place. After much wining and dining, you take things into the physical realm. You have a great time, and afterward, you drop her off. While on the way, she receives a call from another guy asking when they will hang out again. When asked who he was, she replies, “Oh, he’s just a friend, don’t worry.” You immediately think to yourself, ‘Wait, aren’t I just a friend as well?’ Then it hits you that this is normal, and this is the trend of modern dating. Post-COVID, society has allowed hookup culture to create a situation where casual sex is acceptable.
In modern times, dating apps seem to be the most popular way for people to connect. Jones said, “The app is a way of expanding our social network. It is not the magic bullet for finding a long-term person.”
Vincent Jones, director of the Health Promotion Center, said he thinks hookup culture is not always the result of someone responding maladaptively to a stressor in life. Compulsive hooking up could be, and if someone is extremely sexually compelled, that is something people should be mindful of.
Jones is currently researching health on mobile dating apps. He mentions the importance of a profile picture for those using the apps. One will pay close attention to the quality of the profile picture and the biography they give themselves. Grainy or edited photos can be indicators that someone is lying about who they are or trying to make themselves look more attractive. People must be wary of dating apps due to the growing risk of connecting with a bot, or someone who is trying to gain something financially from the person.
There are red flags to be cautious of, such as saying, “I love you,” too soon. This is not a particularly healthy trait when connecting with others online.
Professor Nicholas Grosskopf of York College’s Health and Human Performance said he believes adults have the right to engage in sexual activities that are consensual, safe, and bring them pleasure. “Everyone’s sexual preferences and needs are unique, and it’s important to respect individual choices in this regard,” Grosskopf wrote in an email. “As long as the parties involved are making informed decisions and prioritizing consent and safety, their choice of partner(s) or the nature of their sexual encounters should not be a subject of judgment. It’s essential to foster a culture where healthy, responsible, and consensual sexual behavior is respected and supported, regardless of whether it aligns with traditional views on relationships. Ultimately, the well-being and autonomy of individuals in their sexual lives are what matter most.”
Grosskopf went on to say that in addition to sexual regret, casual sex is associated with psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, as well as low self-esteem and reduced life satisfaction.
It’s true that some research has pointed towards negative psychological outcomes associated with casual sex, such as regret, anxiety, and depression,” he wrote. “However, it’s important to recognize that sex research has historically had a tendency to focus more on the negative aspects of sexual expression, including casual encounters or “hooking up.” This focus can sometimes overshadow the positive experiences and benefits that individuals, including today’s youth, may derive from these encounters. Sexual experiences, even casual ones, can offer opportunities for exploring personal desires, gaining self-understanding, and experiencing pleasure. They can be empowering and contribute to a sense of autonomy and satisfaction. It’s crucial to acknowledge that people’s experiences with casual sex are diverse and can vary widely based on individual contexts, personalities, and circumstances.”
The American Psychological Association found that in a study of 832 college students, 26 percent of women and 50 percent of men reported feeling positive after a hookup, and 49 percent of women and 26 percent of men reported a negative reaction. The remaining students for each sex had a mix of both positive and negative reactions.
Both sexes can experience some negative effects as well. In a study that asked 187 participants to report their feelings after a typical hookup, 35 percent reported feeling regretful or disappointed, 27 percent felt good or happy, 20 percent satisfied, 11 percent confused, 9 percent proud, 7 percent excited or nervous, 5 percent uncomfortable, and 2 percent desirable or wanted.
However, this same study found that feelings differed during hookups compared with after. During a typical hookup, 65 percent of participants reported feeling good, aroused, or excited, 17 percent desirable or wanted, 17 percent nothing in particular or were focused on the hookup, 8 percent embarrassed or regretful, 7 percent nervous or scared, 6 percent confused, and 5 percent proud.
Within the same experiment, seventh, ninth, and 11th graders were evaluated, and the study found that 32 percent of the participants had experienced sexual intercourse and 61 percent of sexually experienced teenagers reported a sexual encounter outside a dating relationship; that represented approximately one-fifth of the entire sample; which is absolutely insane if you think about it.
These days, everyone is lonely, especially post covid. Everyone was forced to isolate themselves, which took a toll on many people. Humans are social creatures and thrive on their social connections to others.
Once online dating became possible, it opened up a new world. Like other cultures, Hookup culture plays a big role in shaping society. Not every experience will be the same, and ultimately, it is something that is here to stay. With that being said, be safe and be smart.
