How Social Justice Movements Influence Modern Dating

Last November, the nation stood divided as our presidential candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald J. Trump, patiently and eagerly awaited the election results. Needless to say, President Trump secured the victory with 312 electoral votes and 77,284,118 popular votes. He now holds the record for the most cumulative popular votes won by any presidential candidate in U.S. history, surpassing Barack Obama.

Despite this, however, a number of social media users took to their platforms, screaming into their phones, crying, and threatening to depart the country. How can this be if he won the majority of the votes on election day? Well, it would seem that many Trump supporters were not honest about their political views, with some downright lying about who they intended to vote for once inside the booth.

Now, 92% of Black women who voted blue have made the decision to [rest] for the next four years, citing that they did not vote for Trump and therefore will not defend anyone who is affected by his actions while in office. Can social justice movements and political views influence modern dating? It seems that in today’s climate, the answer is yes.

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One lady took to her TikTok yesterday to share that she had matched with a gentleman on Hinge, and as they were preparing to meet for their first date, she noticed—while sitting in her car—that he was approaching the restaurant wearing a MAGA hat. She says, “I was about to go on a date, and I saw the guy walk past my car. I put my car in drive and drove away, but I had to pull over to tell this story.

I matched with this guy, and he’s very young, handsome, seemingly successful, and has cute dogs. He seems super career-oriented and really aligned with me. On his bio, he said he was politically moderate, which can mean a lot of different things for people, but it definitely does not mean this. My man is wearing a MAGA hat on a first date. Like, I don’t understand the bait and switch. Why would you say you’re politically moderate on an app and then show up in a MAGA hat?”

When people hide their political views, it is often referred to as “political self-censorship” or “preference falsification.” Political self-censorship occurs when individuals deliberately avoid sharing their political beliefs due to fear of backlash, judgment, and social consequences. Preference falsification, a term coined by economist Timur Kuran, refers to when people misrepresent their true beliefs in public while holding different private opinions due to social pressure.

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This past election taught us all that free thinking cannot exist in any capacity—whether it’s music (not liking a particular artist and speaking on it) or, in this case, politics. In a Reddit thread, one user asked, “Why do people hate Donald Trump?” The responses varied, with some citing, “He is genuinely a moron, there is no better way of putting it. The man is completely self-centered, incredibly full of himself, and incredibly dumb on top of it.” Another user replied, “He lies more than any other candidate ever. Some people will say that all politicians lie, but the truth is that nobody lies as much as Trump does.”

Red Western says, “He is fairly open with his misogyny. He’s never made any bones about the fact that he believes a woman’s place is in service to a man and that their value is inherently determined by their looks. He is fairly open about his racism. He makes explicitly racist remarks on public forums and at rallies. Nowadays, he targets immigrants, Mexicans and Latin Americans, and Muslims.

He is also very committed to deregulation, and his foreign policy can be described as chaotic. He has no respect for diplomacy, and he openly antagonizes allies and enemies alike.” The user goes on to list more reasons, but overall, many believe that Trump is crass and unfit for the presidency due to his lack of professionalism. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that for many women, dating a MAGA supporter may be a dealbreaker, as one would assume this means the man complies with Trump’s beliefs on women and their roles in the home or workplace.

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Social justice movements relate to the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society where individuals’ rights are recognized and protected. It’s safe to assume that those who vote for Trump are opposed to social justice, considering the way he is viewed by non-Republicans. However, as of today, February 7, 2025, Trump has signed an uncomfortable number of executive orders that have impacted both the health and livelihood of many Americans. Yet, no one is protesting—or if there are protests, they are in response to the raids and mass deportations taking place across the country.

An African American inmate by the name of Robert Brooks, serving a 12-year sentence, was brutally beaten to death by prison guards on January 1, 2025. The incident was recorded, and body cam footage was released to the public—yet there have been no protests seeking justice for this heinous crime. How can social injustice influence modern dating when it is happening all around us, and no one is making their voices heard where it matters most?

We can refuse a partner based on their political views, but if you’re not on the front lines actively protesting the rollbacks and changes being implemented daily, then are you really for social equality—or just recording yourself for views and a TikTok check? The question at large today seems to be, “If everyone hates Trump, how did he win the majority vote?” Similar to the pop culture question, “If everyone hates The Kardashians, why isn’t their show canceled?”

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As you peruse social media today, take these two things into consideration:

THE SPIRAL OF SILENCE – A theory by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann that suggests people may publicly conform to a dominant opinion while privately disagreeing, for fear of social isolation or backlash. This can make it seem like “everyone” hates something, even when they don’t.

THE STREISAND EFFECT – While slightly different, this term refers to something gaining popularity or success due to widespread criticism, often because the negative attention amplifies its visibility (The Kardashians, for example).

These two concepts explain why certain political figures, brands, celebrities, or media franchises appear widely disliked but still thrive. Someone may not be able to openly discuss their political views on a dating app but may show up to a date, voice their views, and have the person sitting across from them stand in solidarity with their beliefs. It happens all the time.

So in 2025, I do not believe that differences in political views are influencing modern dating in real life. I do believe that social media has birthed content creators who will lie for engagement and fake outrage for the sake of avoiding backlash. Ending friendships, driving away from people who vote differently from you, or divorcing a partner is not enough. Will you stand on the front line and protest against the injustices you’re isolating yourself behind? That is the real question.

by Riley Cook