ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the concept of jagged love. Positioned in relation to Zygmunt Bauman’s ideas of Liquid Love, Jagged Love articulates how users on dating apps during COVID-19 downloaded multiple apps, started frenetically messaging and matching, only to become quickly despondent with the quality of their matches, and discussions. The main issue being a lack of built intimacy. Users spread themselves thinly, talking to multiple matches online, but never investing in any (keeping conversations surface level). The result – they deleted the dating apps, swore off them, only to return weeks later after experiencing a fear of missing out (creating a cyclical journey on the apps). This chapter examines how the main issue for many was that dating apps conflicted with their understanding of romance (i.e. concepts like the meet-cute, or the notion of not looking for love), and whilst they were conducive to hook-ups, they didn’t allow users to employ themselves in the romantic narrative they were familiar with.
