How Tech Has Changed Relationships Forever

This is a contributed post.

Dating Apps https://www.flickr.com/photos/jhaymesisvip/6497720753

Like pretty much everyone these days, the first thing you do after waking up is probably to reach for your phone, and immediately start replying to texts and checking social media updates. From then until you go back to sleep again, you’re probably using computers, tablets, and other digital devices, whether for personal or professional use. While the modern tech we have access to has done some amazing things, it’s also totally warped the way we think about human relationships. Here’s how…

Dialogue Lacks Context

emoji list https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Emojikeyboardiphone.jpg

This is an issue that we’ve all felt the effects of at one time or another. Often, communicating with someone via a digital medium makes it difficult or totally impossible to detect tone. It can often be very hard to tell when someone’s being sarcastic, sincere or funny, unless you’ve known them for most of your life. This becomes even more of a problem when you’re using online dating apps like Ok Cupid or Tinder to talk to someone completely through text, which may have something to do why more and more people are turning to free chat lines instead. Without the intonation of a voice, and facial expressions to some extent, it can be extremely hard to distinguish what a person says and what they mean.

Too Much Tech Can Lead to Isolation

technology and romance https://www.flickr.com/photos/lukew/6171377827

While tech is just another tool for a lot of us, it’s become a full-blown addiction for some, particularly those in younger age groups. A frankly disturbing amount of kids these days are becoming inexorably attached to the various features and entertainment resources that modern tech offers, and gradually becoming more and more withdrawn from the real world. Instantaneous chats through social media, email and text are taking the place of physical, in-person interactions and discussions. In a world where it’s not necessary to leave the house in order to talk to people, a lot of people won’t! While this kind of isolation only gets truly severe in a handful of cases, it’s still a very real phenomenon, and one which can cripple some people’s social skills.

Tech Has Accelerated the Development of Relationships

Edie and Ernie Adams https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Take_a_good_look_adams_kovacs_1960.JPG

I thought I’d round this post off with a more positive note. Over a third of marriages in the US now start online, and this figure isn’t expected to go down in the near future. While I couldn’t find anything on how fast these relationships went from introduction to mushy love messages, I’m willing to bet that technology speeds the development up significantly! With all the tech we have these days, we can wake up to texts from our partner, meet them at some point in the day, and then carry on our conversation with ease no matter where we are. While some would argue that this takes some of the excitement and magic out of a new relationship, I say that it’s brought people closer together. It’s now easier than ever to get to know someone over a much shorter period of time, and establish whether or not you’re right for each other.