College Relationships

The Desperation for Relationships Among College Students: A Cultural Reflection

Photo by Eliott Reyna on Unsplash

In recent years, the topic of relationships has gained immense prominence, especially among college students. It’s hard to overlook the increasing emphasis on having a girlfriend, which seems almost like a rite of passage for many young men. But what’s driving this trend?

Movies like Sita Ramam or Kushi portray love as magical and transformative—suggesting romance is essential to fulfillment. With platforms like Netflix and Disney+ promoting idealized love stories, students absorb messages that romantic success is a benchmark of personal success.

Social media amplifies this pressure. Instagram and Snapchat bombard students with curated relationship content, causing FOMO and creating a competitive mindset. Love becomes not just personal—but performative.

Societal norms link romantic relationships with maturity. Being single past a certain age can attract stigma, reinforced in campus culture and peer circles. Many students may feel left out, pressured to “catch up.”

Emotionally, college life can be chaotic. Academic pressures, identity struggles, and stress intensify the desire for a supportive partner. A girlfriend can feel like a safe haven—a way to feel seen amid campus chaos.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, loneliness spiked. Students craved closeness, and dating apps like Tinder and Bumble surged in popularity, offering an emotional outlet—however fleeting.

Movies like Arjun Reddy or Geetha Govindam present romantic desperation as relatable or even heroic. Students often idolize these characters, chasing emotional intensity without realizing the difference between fiction and reality.

All these forces—media, culture, peer pressure, personal need—combine to fuel the urgency. And yet, being single is just as valid. A relationship should be something enriching, not a box to check.

Understanding these influences helps ensure students pursue relationships for the right reasons. Because when built on meaning—not desperation—love becomes something truly worth having.