OPINION: Are we all hopeless romantics looking for love or is modern dating just hopeless?

From falling in love behind a wall to swiping left or right, modern dating in today’s society can make you feel a bit like Bridget Jones.

With the fourth Bridget Jones movie in the making and set to ironically be released on Valentine's Day 2025, it led me to ask: are we all hopeless romantics struggling to find love or is finding love in today’s society just hopeless?

From blue soup to big knickers and wobbly bits, we all have a Bridget Jones in us somewhere ladies and while we all may be excited to see her back on our screens once again, it can sometimes feel like our inner Bridget is going to come out and stay out for good.

Throughout childhood we believe someday we will all get our happily ever after, however as we grow up we are told rarely people get their fairytale romance and in today’s society the only thing you get is a bruised ego and mixed signals.

In a world where love or lust is just one swipe away, it can be hard to ever feel like you are going to find “the one”, whatever that means!

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I took my questions on modern dating to my Instagram story. Over 80% of people voted for yes, social media creates unrealistic expectations of love. 64% of people voted for no, dating apps don’t work. 53% voted for yes, romance is dead in today’s society and 64% of people voted yes, people do still meet naturally.

What I took from this is that your story, your life, your journey is yours. In a world so chronically online, it does benefit you to take it offline once in a while. Forget the soft launch and focus on softer love. You may bump into the love of your life in the pub, in an adorable airport moment but only that love can blossom in a safe space, which starts with you.

You deserve to have people around you who make you feel safe. You deserve to put your own needs, peace and happiness first to create that space. Fall in love with you first, build that circle and realise you deserve love, pure friendship and people who build you up.

Find your people, find yourself and fill your own cup. Know that what you are asking for is not too much if you can give it to yourself first. Never ever settle, you deserve to be happy and know it is ok to walk away from anything less because you have that safe space to go back to!

Now in today’s society this is easier said than done, however Bridget had her safe space in her friends and even when Daniel Cleaver broke her heart for the last time she had her circle to lift her back up.

Jones was relatable and I never fail to not belly laugh watching the movies because it’s refreshing. She is all of us, perfectly imperfect and that can be lost with social media. Instagram models left and right and ripped bodies oiled up to find love in the Love Island Villa, it can make us feel like unless we look like them, it is not possible and I promise you it is.

The perfect person is out there for everyone, sure you may find them online, you may even find them at work, in a coffee shop or in the last place you’d expect it. However your Mark Darcy is out there, wobbly bits and all!