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Dating and Relationships in the Digital Age

It would be an understatement to say that relationships have been impacted by developments in technology.

By Jonathan DraperPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
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It would be an understatement to say that relationships have been impacted by developments in technology. Singles looking for partners often faced an uphill battle of finding someone truly compatible in social settings - soulless nightclubs, busy singles bars, and suchlike. In the digital age, people can set up an account on a dating site, browse through the personal details of as many potential partners as they wish, then strike up flirty conversations. Here are some of the ways dating and relationships are flourishing in the digital age according to experts from Beyondthecharter.

Social media

All sorts of relationships have been enhanced by the digital environment, and nowhere is this more obvious than with social media outlets. Facebook allows you to interact with friends and family, but also provides the tools for site users to increase their social circle by sending requests for new contacts to be added. As well as individual interaction, there are all sorts of groups to be joined, bringing together people sharing common interests. Facebook also provide users with the opportunity to check up on people when they're in the early stages of a relationship, perhaps by undertaking a little detective work (or snooping!) to investigate their friendship group and get a better idea of their suitability by reviewing their passions and aspirations.

Finding compatible partners

Digital platforms make it so much more convenient to track down like-minded individuals. When you first sign up to a site you will gain access to the profile information of all the other site users. You can browse through these details, getting a handle on the types of hobbies and background interests that have been specified. Once you come across someone who appears to be on your wavelength, you can easily take matters to the next level by sending a series of direct messages via the site's discreet communication platform. Having the freedom to take the time to compose these digital texts is also so much handier, and is especially beneficial to singles who might consider themselves shy or awkward.

Greater choice

One of the most obvious ways that digital dating has eclipsed what the offline version can offer is with choice. Individuals now have far more control over their love lives, with websites catering for every possible taste. From the outset, you can decide whether you wish to sign up to a site geared towards casual encounters and one-night-stands, or one aimed at pairing members seeking long-lasting relationships. There are any number of 'niche' dating areas – bisexual, gay, age-gap, divorcees, martial arts, and practically any other topic you could think of - each with their dedicated web platforms.

In the digital age, you have complete control

In the offline world, you can be vulnerable when it comes to reaching out to people you don't know. There are also certain social mores, such as putting up with someone you'd rather not be chatting to out of politeness. With a dating site, who you decide to interact with is completely up to you. If you feel the all-important spark of chemistry is missing when you're involved in your online conversations, simply move on to someone else. The way many dating websites function is by employing algorithms that help to match individuals according to compatibility. Much of the functionality behind this hinges on the choices you make when you register – the digital application form might ask you to specify your age group and the age parameters of the people you are hoping to date. You can tailor your searches for other singles by numerous parameters – everything from physical attributes (hair color, build, with/without tattoos and so on) to type of employment.

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About the Creator

Jonathan Draper

I'm Chief Editor of relationship blog at Loveaholics.com.

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