Many college freshmen are experiencing a taste of adult freedom away from home for the first time. This can be both exciting and scary for young adults experimenting, especially sexually, for the first time.
Being in college means getting to try some things for the first time, like going out to bars, frat parties, dating apps and the many fun things that come with college. This, however, can have a downside to it. Those activities typically cause the occasional one-night stand, which in turn can become a “situationship,” aka the most draining eight months of your life.
These college dating phenomena aren’t necessarily new, but have become a lot more prevalent. Although this can be a fun way to meet people and have a potentially raunchy night, it can have adverse effects on young minds and bodies.
As someone who has been through a couple of years of college and has their fair share of stories, here are some pro tips for students who are looking to hook up.
The biggest thing is always to be safe. It might seem cliché, as it’s been engraved into everyone’s heads to be safe during sex, but it really is important.
The last thing you want is an STD or an STI from a frat guy you met at J Bar.
Sexually transmitted diseases can have lifelong effects and may not go away. “Wrap it before you tap it” isn’t just a saying when a condom can be the one thing protecting your private areas. Stocking up to be safe shouldn’t be something to be ashamed of. It’s just being safe and a surefire way to protect your future.
In the same vein, safety doesn’t just stop at contraceptives. Opening yourself up to dating apps and meeting people also opens you up to potentially dangerous situations. We are currently in what’s considered “The Red Zone,” which is a time when over 50% of all sexual assaults on college campuses happen.
Being at a bar or scrolling through a dating app may seem like an innocent way to meet people at college, but others may have a more sinister plot in mind. Be sure friends and/or family know where you are and who you are going with. This can help ensure they can step in if anything were to happen.
There is an emotional toll that affects people who experience the complexities of hookup culture, too. Becoming sex positive, especially in college, can feel liberating at first. Again, for many, this is the first time they get to experience that sort of freedom.
Freedom slowly turns into walking home in your clothes from the night before, while others are going to their 8 a.m. on a Friday.
However, it can become draining, not being able to find that emotional connection that often comes with a relationship. Being young doesn’t mean you have to settle down immediately, but continuing to look for that healthy relationship doesn’t have to stop you from having sexual experiences.
Hookup culture is built on the foundation that one doesn’t want a serious relationship right now. But, entering into a situationship that has sex involved can impact your dependency and emotional toll on the person, resulting in difficult attachment to someone who may not have even voted in the presidential election.
Hookup culture can come with its perks, especially post-breakup. Having gone through a relationship that runs its course can be a very upsetting time. It can be a time that means you don’t want the emotional burden just yet. This is where hookup culture can come into play, which allows someone to experience that sexual activity with someone new again.
Having sex is a fun and often euphoric thing that comes with its perks, but take the advice that the hype of constant hookups wears off quickly. Going through hookup culture is often a canon event in college that isn’t going to stop, but be mindful that one day you’ll want to settle down. The biggest takeaway is to keep your physical, mental and sexual health safe.
BedPost is a sex and relationship column that does not reflect the views of The Post.
