Relationships may seem like a simple interaction between people that have a mutual connection between one another, however, throughout the years there has been a shift in how these interactions occur. We have shifted from arranged meetups organized by family members depending on culture or profession to meeting ‘the one’ online in a society that is now characterized by openness. Letter writing revolutionized to texting, becoming one of the biggest transformations in communication as the Internet began gaining great importance.
The shift from face-to-face interaction to communication behind a screen has led many individuals in losing the ‘magic’ of physicality and eye-contact. Dating applications have had a major influence on personal relationships between individuals as this latest technology provides a new means of communication, excluding direct interaction.
Tinder’s breakthrough in 2012 was majorly criticized due to the freedom the users had in sending inappropriate photos as well as using disturbing language to initiate conversation. Nudity was no longer considered controversial as Tinder became the ‘ideal’ platform when it came down to exchanging sexual images. Bumble entered the picture in 2014- a romanticized version of Tinder– allowing women to make the first move. Whitney Wolfe, founder of the company stated, “Women must make the first move, nudity is verboten, and kindness is part of the company mission”, presenting a new age of online dating where women specifically had control.
Human emotions have been replaced by emojis through texting; becoming the dating world’s new normal. Even though it may seem more comforting to talk behind a screen, spontaneity fades away leading to a more staged conversation lacking physical connection. However, online dating through applications remains highly pleasurable for both sexes as they have the freedom to flirt with words and attract the other person into meeting them in reality. The mystery is what creates a spark between them as the behind the screen chatting generates interest through the ‘unknown’.
