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Millennials might find it hard to picture what dating used to be like. Singles would congregate in social settings – bars, clubs, or nightclubs – rely on introductions by mutual friends, or if they were intimidated by busy situations, they might check out advertisements in newspapers (quaintly entitled ‘lonely hearts’ columns). But where relationships are concerned, a revolution began in 1995 with the launch of the first commercial dating site, followed by the inaugural social media outlets a couple of years later. Since then, virtual dating has exploded in popularity, with many of these websites harnessing technology like geolocation and virtual reality much quicker than other online resources. In this article, iwantblacks shared some insights into how rapid and advanced technological development is affecting communication and relationships.
1. Social media and apps that make our lives easier
Singles eager to connect with kindred spirits can rely on the many examples of dating desktop sites or apps that are widely available. The latter can be easily downloaded from typical app stores, and installed into mobile devices or tablets with minimal fuss. Because these platforms generally offer free membership in the initial stages, newcomers are under no obligation to stick with any particular site until they have spent some time navigating their way around the basic functionality to gain some insight into what would be available if they decided to register and then subscribe. These outlets are being upgraded all the time, offering a diverse range of attributes to budding romantics, from chat rooms to blogs containing advice, video chatting to virtual reality connectivity.
2. Technologies for finding love
Modern dating resources thrive on technological innovation. A classic and longstanding example of this are the built-in algorithms employed to match site users according to compatibility. When anyone signs up to a site, the first thing they will be invited to do is complete an application process where they might have the opportunity to specify aspects like the age-group of their ideal partner, their favored physical features, whether or not are into tattoos, and importantly, their current location. Coding within the site will provide matches based on those site members who would appear to be on a similar wavelength. Technology is providing a shortcut to a potentially successful partnership. Geolocation software will pinpoint any site user’s present whereabouts in real-time, sending messages when someone you have professed attraction towards happens to be in your vicinity.
3. Technologies for long-distance relationships
Not so long ago, matching websites were often aimed at providing quick access to a database of prospective partners, especially those living within a certain catchment area. But the rise in popularity of dating services has meant some of the larger and long-established sites now command worldwide memberships running into millions. When you enter a chat room to converse with like-minded individuals, you could just as easily find yourself flirting with a single from the other side of the planet as someone from your neighborhood. The availability of web chatting channels means you could be exchanging intimate messages with a person from a different cultural background. Technology has eroded international boundaries, creating an atmosphere where people from all walks of life and disparate communities can get introduced. The advent of translation software, not to mention economic travel, has surmounted many of the issues previously associated with long-distance relationships.
4. Anxiety and the overuse of the internet
Because social media now plays such a prominent role in our daily lives, there can be a temptation to keep checking into various platforms. Normally this wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but a smartphone continually bleeping with incoming notifications, especially when you and your partner are trying to appreciate each other’s company, will cause frustration.
As with anything else in life, the utilization of technology in dating has had positives and negatives. But it would be fair to say that, in terms of popularity and overall customer satisfaction levels, the former vastly outweigh the latter. Any newbie thinking about signing up to a matchmaking platform today will have so many diverse outlets and engaging functionality than even a few years ago. And there are so many exciting innovations just around the corner.
