Embrace the connectivity

By Michelle Lin

Technology has become the solid foundation of society—as a matter of fact, there is little that we do today without the aid of some technology. Whether it be watching Netflix, scrolling through Tumblr, or messaging a friend on Facebook, our means of communication lie primarily in the small electronic devices grasped so tightly in our fists. As such, there is no wonder that many have also been turning to technology as a mode for meeting new people and developing romantic relationships.

In a world that’s been revolutionized by technology, apps for dating have become sources full of information. Tinder, for instance, connects people from their surrounding areas, dramatically increasing the dating pool with just one right swipe and a congratulatory match. With the option to narrow down selections by changing the distance or the age category, it’s become far simpler than ever to meet those around you.

Whether you are on the app to find a relationship or to make new friends, the chances of meeting people you may not usually meet outside of a packed schedule have grown tremendously with such innovations, and will simply continue to do so as long as technology remains a factor in modern society.

Take married couple, Jenny Shaab and Ben Marder, for instance, as reported by Business Insider. The couple met on Tinder in early 2013, and just a year and a half later, were happily married through what they believe was “fate.” Yet the Marders are just one example of successful relationships through online dating apps.

According to a spokesperson from Tinder, as reported to Tech Insider, Tinder “receives hundreds of stories each month from people who met on Tinder and are now engaged or married.” Despite the lack of hard numbers and scientific studies in this area, evidence of successful relationships can be found through the #swipedright hashtag posted on Tinder’s website that encourages users to discuss their love stories through Twitter and Instagram. Tinder, as well as other forms of dating apps, has proven effective to so many users today.

For the past decade, technology has also been an aid to communication between long-distance relationships. Rather than sending letters and postcards in the mail to be received in several days—perhaps even weeks—people are more instantly able to connect with others. Friends or significant others are just a few short messages away through social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter, which further allow people to stay updated on one another’s lives.

According to the Pew Research Center, social media helps teens feel closer to their romantic partners. 59% of adolescents with experience being in a relationship claim that social media allows them to feel more connected to what’s happening in their significant other’s life. Technology has been shown to benefit those who simply don’t have the opportunity or ability to be close to those they love.

With social media as a medium, technology has also been a large supplement to people who suffer from social anxiety. Without the initial face-to-face interactions, people are able to connect more easily and directly through non-threatening forums.

“Using social media could be helpful for people who have social anxiety,” explains mental health counselor Bill Munze. “Whether social media (hinders) more than assisted a person (rests) on the individual.”

Even non-dating platforms have the potential to connect people with common interests and spark relationships that would have never been possible otherwise. These websites and apps encourage people to communicate freely without the fear of struggling to respond in social situations and being scrutinized.

With the rise of the modern age, technology has been a beneficial means towards achieving romance. Dating apps such as Tinder or Hinge have connected people within surrounding areas, and social media has aided long-distance relationships and those with social anxiety. Modern romance is just one simple convenience of technology today.