While episodic behaviour on dating apps is not new, the pandemic heightened and accelerated the process as people desperately sought the certainty offered by the romance masterplot, quickly lost faith because of the limitations of the pandemic, and then returned again. This manifested cyclically, as participants turned to the apps seeking the security offered by the romance masterplot in a time of global uncertainty swiped, matched, and messaged in large numbers, and lost faith in the apps ability to deliver on the romantic masterplot. We propose that participants use of dating apps in this period was characterised by ‘jagged love’, which we have theorised in relation to Zygmunt Bauman’s notion of ‘liquid love’. Using data drawn from interviews and focus groups, and combining sociological research and narrative theory, we explore the way the romance masterplot affects the way people approach romance in dating apps, and how this has been complicated by the pandemic.

This article examines how people interact with the romance masterplot and how it affects their search for love on dating apps in Australia during the global pandemic in 2020. It is a cultural masterplot: a story with which almost everyone is familiar, which can deeply and intrinsically shape the way we think about how we live. The spinny heart on the side of the box spins until the recipient opens the message.The romance plot is one of the most pervasive narratives in Western society. You can send love notes, pictures, drawings, or stickers. We can text, FaceTime, snail mail, Skype, Zoom, or one of the most popular ways to instantly brighten your true love’s day no matter where they are in the world is with our Lovebox-the world’s first love note messenger. Thanks to modern technology, we can communicate with our true love in an infinite number of ways! If you’re in a long-distance relationship, it's just as essential to maintain consistent healthy communication. True love is always healthy communication! There are never any games or deceit or blaming the other for something. You are genuinely friends and want to talk to them and hear what they have to say. You connect on a deeper, emotional level. When you’ve found your true love, it is like you’ve finally found the best friend you’ve always wanted in life. Not only is regular communication key, but so is regular healthy communication.

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