Should I just give up on dating?

I am a 24-year-old woman and have been trying to date for a year-and-a-half using apps. Online dating is a nightmare though because, until now, I have not met a single person I would like to get into a relationship with. The men I meet are either narcissistic or rude, and some don’t even pretend that they’re interested in anything more than a casual fling. I worry that I will not meet anyone even halfway decent, and it’s not as if meeting people offline is easy either, given how busy everyone is. I sometimes feel as if I should give up on dating completely, because it feels so hopeless. Am I doing something wrong?
You’re not doing anything that a million other people aren’t doing too. There are multiple things to consider here, from the technology that allows people to swipe left and right to choose or reject someone, to the fleeting nature of relationships that a lot of people have become accustomed to. You are simply caught in a system that millions of people around the world are struggling with too. Yes, meeting people offline is hard, and apps may often seem like the only viable option, but you have to accept that technology comes with its own limitations. If you aren’t meeting anyone decent, you simply have to widen your search or change how you’re approaching the idea of dating. The more people you meet, the higher your chances of finding someone interesting. If someone is clear about not wanting a long-term relationship, move on. You can also recalibrate your own expectations and take things slowly for a change, by not talking about where you expect a date to go until you have a chance to understand the person you’re on the date with. Keep your cards to your chest, meet with no expectations, and focus on whether you and the person you’re with are connecting in any way. A lot can happen to change people’s minds when they least expect it.

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