"Having lovers and friends is all good and fine, but I don't like yours, and you don't like mine" -- Eric Clapton

Was just about to write, there is no difference to how dating worked back in the day. Its just more online.

People have always been following influencers who will say anything in a partner is problematic for engagement metrics?

The closest thing I can think of to something like that were certain types of magazines but they'd come out monthly, you weren't steeped in it.

People actually date these kinda people? Why?

I mean horoscopes have been a thing for a while or very conservative religious people. Same thing. "Don't do that, dont do this" type of content has existed way before the internet.