I'm single and I don't know either.

I've been single for five years now.

I got rid of social media and then COVID hit.

I honestly don't even know how to socialize anymore let alone date.

Fortunately or unfortunately as the case may be, my relationship history has me so jaded, that I really don't have any desire to date.

If I did desire such a thing, I have no idea how I would go about it. There aren't any more physical community places unless you wanna go get shitfaced in a bar, and I'm long since past those days.

Bars/Pubs. The booze helps lubricate those social wheels. Or friends of friends being introduced to each other.

But honestly anywhere could be a place to meet someone if you're not a creep about it and don't try to force it.

Oh man, I know that feeling all too well! MySpace was a thing when I was last dating, so it's like an entire world has passed by. A while back, I was at a bar with a friend, and he let me swipe through Tinder on his account while he got a round in, and having that kind of easy access to dating when I was younger would've been absolutely petrifying.

I've used MeetUp to find local events geared towards single folks. Some groups are really good...others not so much. It's helped me get used to socializing and meeting new people again though.

Have been in a monogamous relationship for a while as well. I think that the rreliance on apps is a false need, cultivated to make more money on said apps as their goal isn't to lose customers by finding good matches but to keep extracting profits. There's a significant conflict of interest that makes me think that they are little more than a scam that ocassionally helps people hook-up despite the companies' best efforts.

Glad that I don't have to deal with dating and dread the idea that I may have to in the future because I hate it but my suggestions would be:

If looking to cultivate something with long-term potential, put relationship goals on the backburner and participate in an interest that has a possible social component. If one is genuinely interested, they will find people who find them interesting.

If looking to get laid, probably bars in the US (unfortunately, not usually a great place to meet people just looking to socialize, unlike Ireland or the UK).

Alternatively, if one is into kinks or curious and able to be not creepy (can be extra challenging for single men), getting involved with a kink/fetish community that does non-play meet-ups might be a good option. As noted, it can be a bit of a challenge for single men to get accepted, but is not impossible. This is because such groups tend to be very zealous about protecting their community and single men have historically been higher-risk for abuse, assault, and not honoring kink contracts. (As a man, I don't like the discrimination but do understand and agree with it as I'd rather some guy get hurt feelings than someone end up in the ICU or a dumpster).

Tell that to the women that go to my gym with their asses hanging out. I mean I'm honestly offended because I'm here to spend time with myself in self-reflection and conditioning but now it's ruined because I'm asking myself all kinds of questions like "how much little validation does she get from life that she needs to do that? And she's looking around, scanning for eyes. She knows wtf she's doing. Women will complain about being sexualized as an object and then do shit like this! If she needs male attention that badly, why here, of all places? Does she not have parents? I'd hate to be this girls father. Then again, there probably isn't a father in her life if she's going out like this. I mean it's not even an aesthetic body! If you have sculpted leg muscles, etc then fine. You've earned the right to show that off. But this chick doesn't even have a noteworthy ass. The only thing noteworthy is that it's outside of her shorts. Why the fuck would you do this to me? I'd still hit it though."

I think the biggest problem is that people go straight to trying to flirt or hit on someone... We've spent too much time on Tinder where it is sending as many one-liner pick-up style openers that people start to think that is a normal way for an interaction out in the world to go. Generally, the majority has forgotten how to talk to people face to face in real life in a normal and appropriate manner.

Also, if they are now married with children, I have to assume they met a few years ago and at least possibly, maybe even likely, it happened before the shit hit the fan like it has now. The dating world has been rapidly changing over the last few years.

If consenting adults are meeting one another in a public space

"Consent" is a problem when men try to hit on women using headphones, or when people don't get the hint that you really don't want to have a conversation with strangers.

Ok, but how do I know if she 'consents' to being approached before talking to her?