Technology and Relationships

   

                Whether it is viewed as positive or negative, nobody can deny the enormous impact technology and social media has made on personal interactions and intimacy. Long lost family members and friends can not only reconnect but be in contact 24/7. Yet we also face an emerging problem with face to face interactions and the attention span of those who become addicted to social media. Much like the invention of internet, radio, and telephone in prior history, the technology advances the arc of society even if it shifts the social paradigm.

                The world of dating has experienced a revolution. No longer are bars, grocery stores, or church socials the primary scene for singles who are looking. Social apps such as Tinder and websites such as Match.com have been embraced by millions. No more drunken pickup lines or awkward introductions are necessary. This has led to what is often called a “hook-up culture”. Far fewer people are eager to enter into a romantic relationship when the next date is only a swipe away.

                The seemingly brief nature of these relationships does pose a strain on people’s desires for intimacy. For the most part, high school sweethearts who spend 70 years together is likely an anachronism. But is this such a problem? In an era where the vast majority of people never travelled and needed large families to manage the farm, the permanence of relationships was more a by-product of economic need and religious belief. A highly mobile and secular society would naturally see a shift towards what we are currently experiencing.

                There is a waning element of the human condition as these digital devices drain away traditional social interaction. But times change, as they always have. We will adapt and the ability to connect with those far removed greatly outweighs that loss.