Been out of the dating scene quite a while, but for those who are not, has the 'old school' way of meeting people and asking a phone number etc. become harder now? Do people only want to use dating apps for that purpose now?
I was always too shy to ask a stranger for her number, but do remember a push to make that inappropriate in the 2010s (though that might have been more of an angry online feminist thing, the gist was asking someone for their number was a non-consensual imposition, thus harassment, while online dating was consensual).
People (male and female) need to take ownership of the difference between being uncomfortable and assaulted, because they're very different things.
If I ask someone for their number, and they're not comfortable giving it, they say "No thanks." I hear that and I say "No problem! It was nice meeting you" and then forget about it (or leave, as appropriate to the situation).
There's discomfort in life, because we're not all psychic.
Attempting to normalized discomfort out of life is just going to end up in some weird fun house mirror world, where we're still doing the same things, just through proxies or at arm's length.
Once you're out of college, it's a sorry state. Dating apps get worse because these companies know that the alternatives owing to the always-online life are not great.
Asking someone out in itself is the same as it always was, what has changed is appropriate opportunities to capitalize on.
Is that really the case?
I think people feel the need to go out, especially when they are single. Not necessarily for dating purpose but when you have nobody to talk to at home you look more easily at danse/gym classes, sports club, art events, etc.
I've done most of the aforementioned examples, and gyms have not been a place to socialize very much; people are there to train on a schedule, then leave. Sports clubs can be more forgiving but it depends on what you're doing (dancing may be better). I played competitive team sports as an adult a few times and unless you were already part of some in-group, making friends is not that easy. People play then go home.
I had the largest returns (socially-speaking) in book clubs and similar groups like that.
Like I have a few friends who met people within the group of their crossfit/whatever fitness class it was and when I am passing by on the seafront I very often see people doing sports with a coach, some of them having a chat when they are finishing up and wrapping their yoga bag and stuff.
Even the stock price of Match Group reflects that. They were in moderate use before and then had a few good years during before falling off a cliff. People who had, up until that point, not bothered trying to use these apps gave them a shot and then ran away.
It's never been all that difficult to ask someone out anyway. Discovery of new people got easier when things opened back up. People now make it a point to go out when they didn't before.
I don't think I would go through the dating app shit show again if I were to be single again.