The thing both these pieces miss.

The internet makes it unnecessary. In any reasonably sized city, even with people leaving it in droves, for $200 a month Tinder is going to serve you more dates than you have time for.

And most women 18-25 are okay with you slipping into their DMs.

Like... approaching people in public is fine. And there's plenty of thought pieces from women on Medium in their late 30s lamenting it doesn't happen anymore. (It's not because you are old, it's because social norms switch and we find other ways to connect with strangers.)

For a guy of that age, it's like... why do it if he's already in satisfying relationships? Men of that age, also have way deeper and more connected platonic relationships with women.

This is what I observe of college kids. And what my brief conversations have brought to light for me.