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There can be no argument that social media and technology has changed the way we relate and do business today. The same can be said for how we date and manage relationships. Since the emergence of online dating, the industry has ballooned, The Online Dating industry accounted for $1.03 billion in 2007, and the projected growth is $1.65 billion by the end of 2012. Over the last 10 years, the industry recorded 154% of growth for every year. Today in the US, 40 million people have tried online dating and 17% of couples married in the past three years met their partners online (WinkWisely).
The fact that so many people are now meeting online is a direct reflection of the development of new technology. Texting, video chat, email and the ability to ?cyber-stalk? someone on the many social networking sites allows us to bypass the more conventional dating procedures and take dating to the next level.
Evolving technology has vastly improved the way we communicate. It gives us a sense of proximity, closeness and connectedness. Texting and email cater to the shy and reserved and is a less confronting way of communication for some, with less awkward silences and ?first date jitters? getting in the way.? With the hectic lifestyles of others, and those pre-occupied with their professional careers, video dating sites like Seek.ly and the Mixers dating app on Facebook allow individuals to meet through face-to-face video chat. Social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn allow people to search and find information about those they meet online.
As with all technology, there are both advantages and disadvantages. While the advantages of the new communication tools include the immediacy of being able to connect, being able to meet people that have been pre-screened for common interests, personality characteristics and meeting people outside your social circle, there are disadvantages too. It can be difficult to get a real feel of someone through email, text and chat. And of course, there will always be those unscrupulous individuals who lurk online.
Other disadvantages of this rapidly increasing technology is that dating today can be far too focused on searching through the online dating and social networking sites, chatting and texting just to find and maintain relationships. This creates an atmosphere where people spend more time scrutinizing profiles, sifting through and decoding the messages received via social networks than face-to-face with others. Some people even break up online. The dating scene today is creating an environment where people don?t know how to deal with the difficulties of relationships face-to-face and may often use technology to shield themselves.
The key, then, to successfully and productively using technology to find a partner and maintain a healthy relationship is to push past the technology barrier and when you find someone online that you connect with, unplug yourself and spend as much quality face-to-face time with them to build a strong and long-lasting relationship.
Ali Goldfield, Psychotherapist
Source: http://winkwisely.com/2012/10/11/how-technology-is-changing-the-face-of-dating/
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