The way we search for love has changed drastically over the past decade. Online dating has changed the game, so it’s now socially acceptable to chat with a stranger on social media instead of asking them out for a coffee and getting to know them in person.
A 2015 Pew study revealed that 59% of Americans claimed that online dating was a good way to meet people, which is an increase of 15% over the past decade. Furthermore, over 15% of Americans now use dating apps to search for partners.
The Difference In How We Date
Today, it’s so common to check someone out online before meeting them. Technology makes personal information much more accessible, and the number of American adults who use dating apps has tripled over the past few years. This surge in internet dating has significantly impacted the way that people date.
For instance, people now worry about how long they should wait before they return a message. Before smartphones existed, people suggested that waiting two days before calling someone after a date is appropriate. For online dating, that 2-day waiting rule doesn’t apply. In fact, men who waited 2days to reply to their matches only averaged a 45% response rate, whereas men who replied instantly earned a 63% response rate.
Romance Driven By Data
Our data-driven culture has also started shaping our dating lives. People now focus on lists of attractive qualities, and some individuals spreadsheet their likes and dislikes during dates. Filters help dating app users create groups of potential matches based on specific criteria.
This data-driven approach turns dating into a shopping experience, and that isn’t a good thing when you’re trying to find a partner. Our dating culture manages to objectify others and doesn’t emphasize building a real relationship with someone. Zoosk revealed that those who use filters receive fewer replies , while users who don’t share deeper conversations with their matches.
Furthermore, people give up on relationships more quickly now than ever before. Some people may not schedule a second date with someone simply because they don’t like their date’s hairstyle. We discard potential matches the same way that we discard handbags or dresses, and that’s not OK.
The Changing Attitude Towards Relationships
Technology doesn’t only provide more access to potential partners. It also allows people to easily indulge in their fantasies. Technology removed everything that previously restricted people from finding a potential mate, so dating has become more convenient, less time-consuming, and more portable.
Thanks to global dating websites, people now see that so many types of relationships are possible. However, people must also realize that successful relationships have nothing to do with how popular your profile is. Only your own attitude towards love matters.
The sad part is that most people have adopted a lazy attitude towards relationships because dating websites view relationships as hobbies or sports instead of long-term commitments. People see committed relationships as disposable and unnecessary to their ultimate happiness. In fact, many Millennials are now much more willing to jump into bed with someone than to tie the knot.
Always Another Fish In The Sea
Before technology changed our lives completely, most people found potential dates through social circles, work acquaintances, or blind dates. However, dating apps now provide instant access to thousands of possible matches with the mere swipe of a finger.
Dating apps undeniably provide us with a golden opportunity to find true love, but they also have negative effects. Many people now date anyone who seems physically attractive, then emotionally burn themselves out. Most young adults also don’t allow themselves enough time to heal between relationships. Dating apps easily allow everyone to jump from one relationship to another without ever experiencing the reality of single life.
Technology may provide easier access to potential love interests nowadays, but that doesn’t mean that our relationships will be more successful. The biggest challenge most Millennials face is committing to one partner for life. At the end of the day, data-driven romance appears to leave many empty-handed and unsatisfied. So take your heart off Tinder and into the “real world”- you’re sure to meet your perfect match!
Featured Photo by Edgar Chaparro on Unsplash.
