MM, I met my Rav about twenty years ago, one of the best things that have ever happened to me. I wish it occurred 30 years ago. I have a two tiered family which reflects when the Rav entered our lives.
Anyway, to answer your question:
When I came to Brooklyn, there were huge populations of young people, male and female, with basement apartments in Boro Park. That was the “with it” place to be. Although I had learned in a renowned “out-of-town” yeshiva, as did my roommates, I transferred to Brooklyn College and learned in one of the local smaller yeshivos.
The local Boro Park custom was that after the seuda Friday night, the entire length of Thirteenth Avenue was crowded with frum people walking, greeting, schmoozing, meeting, very innocent and relaxed. The same scene was transferred to Fourteenth Avenue the next day after the seuda.
There was no hanky panky and yeshivos did not issue restrictions and no one ever heard of a kol korei in those days.
Hashem ways don’t always coincide with a sudden spiritual happening; many times it evolves into the eventual hashgacha.