Loyalty is a thing of the past. With apps like Tinder, Woo, Truly Madly etc. on the rise, youngsters have forgotten what it is like to be committed to only one person. And now, they openly express how they’d rather be polyamorous, than in a relationship!
Don’t they feel the need to stay loyal to one another, after going on a few dates? “I don’t think I have ever discussed the concept of loyalty with anyone I’ve met on Tinder” says Afreen. “We met on an app that sets people up. I have been talking to and meeting up with a number of guys. Once I even ran into one of the guys I had met up with when I was with somebody else and it did get a little awkward. But neither of us made much of it because we all have a similar understanding. We don’t want to be committed to just one person and be answerable to them. I want to meet different guys, and talk about completely different things,” opines the 22 year old.
These apps are no longer about finding your one perfect match, but instead it is about getting to know many people you’re compatible with. “I don’t think anybody uses these apps to meet just one person these days. We just want to have fun rather than be weighed down in a relationship with just one person. We witness so many break ups that now, it’s just easier for us to stay away from all of it. Also, I share similar interests with one guy and can relate to situations another guy talks about. It’s a different relationship I have with each guy because not everybody relates to and understands what you’re feeling,” says Radhika, a 23-year-old management employee.
But with 16 year olds joining the dating game, aren’t these apps doing more damage than good? “Being in a relationship takes of effort and we don’t want to carry that burden. I hang out with several girls who I met on different apps and know that they also go on dates with other guys. It’s fine as long as the both of you know where you stand in the relationship,” says Akash Solanki an 18-year-old from the city.
So what influences youth to opt for polyamory? “Youngsters get bored easily so they feel it’s important to have a ‘variety’ even in relationships. Another factor that influences these polyamorous relationships is the fact that these people have low self confidence. Being in multiple relationships boosts their confidence level to some extent,” explains Dr Nisha Khanna, relationship psychologist.
