Technology is changing how romantic relationships form and develop for many young people. While it is not destroying courtship, technologies like texting, video chatting, and online dating have redefined romance by allowing people to communicate and learn about each other in different ways. However, overreliance on technology for relationship building may eliminate in-person interactions that foster intimacy, like surprising discoveries about a partner and the excitement of not knowing everything about someone beforehand. Social media also influences relationships after they form, as displaying a partner publicly on platforms can pressure couples to stay together, while breaking up digitally through texts or virtual encounters with an ex can delay emotional recovery.

1. Is Technology Eroding Our Relationships?
Image
by:
Stephan
Geyer
By: Dayna Hill !

2. In the digital age, technology isn't killing courtship.
But for many young couples,
it's redefining what romance looks like.
Image
by:
Valen3na_A

3. These days we often text instead of speak…
Image
by:
Xraijs_

4. …use FaceTime instead of having
face-to-face discussions…
Image
by:
JoePhilipson

5. Image
by:
Adam
Kuban
x
…and zip through online dating profiles with the
same speed it takes to order a pizza.

6. Image
by:
Peteris
B
"The text is the pygmy of
communication methods.
It's a Post-it note, a P.S.
It's minimum investment,
minimum effort.”
– Mandy Appleyeard

7. Image
by:
ericskiff
Human relationships are rich,
and they're messy and they're demanding,
and we clean them up with technology.

8. Image
by:
PistoCasero
“We sacrifice
conversation…
…for mere
connection.”
– Sherry Turkle

9. Image
by:
Marit
&
Toomas
Hinnosaar
Facebook is the most useful tool for dating
since the invention of the box of chocolates. !

10. Image
by:
JimmyMac210
It may also be the most dangerous
threat to dating since
bad breath.!

11. Image
by:
*
Polly
*
Social networking has created
an array of new
dating rules. !

12. Image
by:
{shelby.}
“A letterman's jacket or a class ring —those
kinds of social courtship scripts
don’t exist on Facebook.”
-Galena Rhoades

13. Image
by:
Stephan
Geyer
We talk about liquid
courage, but what about
screen courage?
For many people the
screen
dissolves inhibitions.

14. Image
by:
Steve
Goodyear
It has leveled the playing field, so that everyone has
a chance to be outgoing and engaging.

15. Image
by:
xxjoyceeyxx
Is social media eliminating elements of
intrigue and mystery?

16. Image
by:
Aun3e
P
Brushing up on
someone's background
pre-date means you could
skip over some of those
foundational moments
of discovery in
person.

17. Image
by:
wolfpix
Goodbye butterflies and excitement…
…I already know everything about you.

18. Image
by:
NickNguyen
How people displayed
their relationships on Facebook
were associated with differing
levels of commitment.

19. Image
by:
Marco
Colin
Those that displayed their significant other
in their profile picture and were
listed as “in a relationship”…
…were more likely to stay together.!

20. Image
by:
Joe
Wilcox
People feel more pressure from friends and family
to stay together when they have their partner
in their profile picture and relationship status.

21. Image
by:
bored-­‐now
Despite the many pitfalls of dating in the age of
social networking, the most contentious use of
technology comes after two people break up.!

22. Image
by:
cheesy42
“1 in 10 people have been dumped via text.”
- Digital Journal

23. Image
by:
SimonQ錫濛 
Once you finally manage to sever offline ties,
there’s really no way to avoid
virtual run-ins with your ex.

24. Image
by:
George_Washington
Remaining Facebook friends with an ex delayed
emotional recovery and led to greater distress over
the breakup, negative feelings, sexual desire
and longing for the ex-partner.

25. Image
by:
tantek
The simple fact is that ever since the Internet arrived,
our sexual and romantic lives have become
more and more digitized!!

26. All images are licenced under a !
Creative Commons agreement and
sourced from flickr!
Image
by:
bengt-­‐re

27. Sources
• hYp://www.cnn.com/2013/02/12/tech/web/tech-­‐romance-­‐evolu3on
• hYp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/20/rela3onships-­‐technology-­‐
tex3ng-­‐romance_n_1219841.html
• hYp://readwrite.com/2012/03/05/
how_technology_changes_our_rela3onships?
&_suid=136857070018208763726118486375
• hYp://www.livescience.com/10769-­‐facebook-­‐adds-­‐perils-­‐rituals-­‐da3ng.html
• hYp://www.buzzfeed.com/atmccann/how-­‐facebook-­‐ruined-­‐da3ng-­‐and-­‐
breaking-­‐up-­‐too
• hYp://www.slate.com/ar3cles/life/roiphe/2013/02/
online_da3ng_is_it_more_real.html
• hYp://www.da3ngwithoutdrama.com/rela3onships-­‐in-­‐the-­‐facebook-­‐era-­‐
advice-­‐from-­‐men/
• hYp://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/05/11/da3ng-­‐and-­‐the-­‐impact-­‐
of-­‐social-­‐media/