Delulu&Devoted
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Alright, besties, let’s be real—swiping through dating apps feels like scrolling through the world’s most chaotic menu. Left, right, left again… and then BAM! You match with someone who looks like they’d break your heart and steal your hoodies. Love that for us.
But despite living in the digital age, Gen Z is still out here manifesting meet-cutes like we’re in a rom-com. Why? Running into a cutie at a coffee shop and bonding over the same milk preference just hits differently.
For those of you who don’t know, a “meet cute” is when two romantic interests meet in a way that is, well, cute. This could be reaching for the same book at the library, sitting next to each other on a plane, or even working up the courage to simply say hello.
With the Internet becoming so present in our daily lives, it’s only natural that it would eventually affect dating
We get it—apps are convenient. You can find love (or at least a situationship) while binge-watching Love Island in your pajamas. But let’s be honest, the rizz game on these apps? Kinda tragic. A “wyd?” at 2 a.m. doesn’t scream soulmate energy, and no, Brad, telling me I have “nice eyes” when I’m wearing sunglasses in every pic is not a flex.
Plus, the paradox of choice is so real. Too many options, too much effort, and let’s not even talk about the emotional rollercoaster of matching with someone only for them to never send a message. It’s like being ghosted (because you are) —painful and embarrassing.
Despite our phone addiction, we still crave those movie-style moments. Accidentally bumping into someone at a bookstore? Dreamy. Locking eyes across a concert while your fave artist plays? Instant endorphins. Even getting stuck in an elevator with a hottie (as long as they’re not a red flag) feels like fate doing its thing.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
We grew up watching 10 Things I Hate About You, The Notebook, and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before—so of course we’re delulu for a cinematic love story.
And let’s be honest, no one’s childhood dream was to say, “Yeah, we met on Hinge. He said ‘Hey,’ I said ‘Hey,’ and now we’re getting married.” Like, no thanks, where’s the drama? The slow burn? The enemies to lovers arc?
We want something a little more ✨ iconic ✨—maybe a moment where we reach for the same book at the library or bond over our tragic Starbucks orders. Dating apps take away that fate element, and deep down, we kinda still want the universe to play matchmaker.
Here’s the thing: dating apps can show you someone’s height, hobbies, and star sign, but they cannot tell you if you’ll have that instant, unexplainable spark.
You know the one—when you make eye contact with someone across the room and suddenly forget how to breathe. Or when you randomly start talking to a stranger, and before you know it, you’re laughing like you’ve known each other forever. That kind of chemistry can’t be manufactured—you either have it or you don’t.
Sure, you can swipe on someone who seems perfect on paper, but will they make your heart race when they brush their hand against yours? Doubtful.
On dating apps, everyone puts their best foot forward—curated pics, carefully crafted bios, and a suspicious amount of group photos where you have to play detective to figure out who they even are.
In person, you can’t hide behind filters or perfectly planned text responses. Your awkward laugh? It’s out there. The way you talk with your hands? On full display. But that’s a good thing.
People get caught up in the perfectionism of online dating, but IRL, attraction is about so much more than just looking good in photos. It’s about energy, body language, and the way someone makes you feel when they’re standing next to you.
The best love stories happen when you least expect them. It’s the randomness of it all that makes it exciting—meeting someone at a concert, running into them at an airport, or even getting set up by a friend without expecting much.
The Notebook
Dating apps take away that surprise factor. Everything is planned, from how you introduce yourself to what day you’ll finally meet up (if they don’t ghost first). But when you meet someone IRL, it feels like destiny is doing its thing—and nothing beats that feeling.
The magic isn’t in the meeting—it’s in the moments after.
A coffee shop glance or a swipe on Hinge—both can lead to late-night conversations, inside jokes, and the kind of love that makes your friends roll their eyes.
Apps don’t erase destiny; they just help it along.
Dating apps aren’t replacing fate, just expediting it. There’s still a sense of “meant to be” when two people find each other, no matter the medium.
People still crave romance—even in the digital age.
We still romanticize relationships, whether they start online or in person. It’s why we rewatch Pride and Prejudice or To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. The desire for something special hasn’t changed.
Dating apps don’t eliminate cute stories—they create new ones.
Swiping right might not sound cinematic, but “We matched on Hinge, and he immediately made me laugh” or “our first date lasted six hours because we couldn’t stop talking” are just modern versions of classic love stories.
Not everyone meets online!
While dating apps are common, meet-cutes still happen in coffee shops, bookstores, airports, and, yes, even on the subway. Some people prefer organic connections, and they still exist.
Even an app meet-cute can turn into something story-worthy.
The first time you lock eyes IRL, the way they look at you across the room—that’s the real “meet cute” moment, even if it started with a swipe.
Maybe Gen Z hasn’t killed the “meet cute” after all. Maybe we’ve just redefined it.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the “how.” It’s about the who. And that will always be romantic.
10 Things I Hate About You
At the end of the day, dating apps aren’t evil—they work for a lot of people, and they’re super helpful for breaking out of small social circles. But if we had to choose between swiping in bed or having our very own Serendipity-style moment in a bookstore, we’d go with the meet-cute every time.
So maybe it’s time to step outside, hit up a cute café, and let fate do its thing. Because who knows? Your next great love story might just be one accidental coffee spillway.
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