The Impact of the Digital Age on Love
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THE IMPACT OF THE DIGITAL AGE ON LOVE
The evolution of technology in the 21st century has significantly affected general human interaction among individuals worldwide. Advancements in the modes of communication such as through electronic mail, social media platforms and swift messaging services have made interaction easier and trouble-free. Over the years, how people express their love and feelings to their significant other has also changed. How people expressed their desire for each other three decades ago is different from the way they do today. The digital era has not only remodelled how individuals show love but also how to receive it. Modern communication methods have positively impacted love among individuals as it is now easier for singles to date and find love through dating apps the likes of Tinder. However, despite the positive impacts, some individuals may attribute their loss of love to technology.
The introduction and developments of smart devices such as smartphones and laptops in the communication scene have rapidly transformed means of connection by enabling individuals to stay in touch with family, friends and spouses regularly. The ability of these devices to relay messages instantaneously has given rise to social media platforms and dating apps such as Facebook and Tinder, where individuals meet and fall in love virtually from any part of the globe. These social networking sites have proven useful to individuals who have a difficult task in finding love in the real world as it is easier to meet more people as compared to physical interactions.
Distance is no longer a barrier of love as it was a few decades ago. The intimacy between two people has grown stronger through long-distance relationships as a result of real-time communication since only a smart device is necessary to exchange video calls and messages regularly. Technology in this digital era has also improved the personal relationship and connection between two individuals as virtual communication through messages and calls may prove to be more comfortable for most people. Therefore, individuals may bond firmly virtually as compared to real life. Furthermore, virtual communication has enabled people, such as introverts to have a comfortable space for interactions with their significant others.
Regardless of the benefits offered by the modern methods of communication in the digital era by giving room for people to find love, mobile devices have also impacted relationships negatively. Most individuals in relationships claim that their partners get overly obsessed with technological gadgets when together. The addiction to social media platforms such as Instagram or even corporate responsibilities such as replying to work-related emails shows an over-reliance on these devices. Partners, therefore, claim to receive less attention from their spouses or significant other and thus causing a downfall in relationships.
While social media and dating platforms have provided means for individuals to interact freely and efficiently, the digital representation of people in these sites may reveal a lot of information regarding them. This information may be beneficial as it gives individuals insights on the person they wish to date. However, some people may possess completely different personas while on these platforms. Therefore, one may fall in love with qualities that are not similar to the other person’s real identity as portrayed in the dating platforms.
As individuals increasingly confine their passion for data and technology, love gets more rationalized and objectified, leading to the loss of love as compared to previous times. The availability of algorithms and artificial intelligence integrated within the dating platforms get considered as a way to optimize the search for a partner. Therefore, most people do not get a chance to know and understand the characters of the people they wish to date. This is, therefore, a significant hindrance to individuals who would want to invest in stable relationships.
The incorporation of new technological resources in love affairs has, therefore, had a noteworthy impact on individuals. It is without a doubt that digital technology is changing and redefining what it means to experience love in this era. Due to this technology, people in relationships can continuously communicate with their significant others as messages are sent swiftly compared to previous decades where sending messages was regarded as a tedious task. The ability to communicate with other individuals from any part of the world and expect instantaneous replies may significantly influence stronger love bonds between two people.
References
Digital Nation. (2010). Digital Nation Trailer [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO4MSOJqdtw