The Death of Romance In A Digital Age

Today we live in a digital age where technology and social media have transformed the way we communicate, connect, and share information. However, as social media becomes a more integral part of our lives, it also drastically changes the dynamics of romantic relationships.

It's safe to say we no longer live in the type of romance displayed in The Notebook. Our generation has strayed far from handwritten love letters and extravagant dates and instead relies heavily on texting and showing off a significant other for followers to see. While this may seem like just adapting to the evolving societal norms, people should take into consideration the many ways this can ruin relationships. Here are a few:

Constant Comparison

Whenever we click through posts, we see images of contented couples or far-flung trips, and we can't help but compare our own lives to other people's highlight reels.

Relationship jealousy and anger can rise as a result of this continual comparison, which can also foster feelings of inadequacy and discontent. Keeping tabs on our spouses has never been simpler thanks to social media, which has created a poisonous circle of distrust and surveillance. Innocent likes or comments on a friend's post can spark disagreements, which further erodes communication and trust in a relationship.

Among those whose partner uses social media, 23% say they have felt jealous or unsure of their relationship because of the way their current partner interacts with others on these sites, and this share rises to 34% among those ages 18 to 29.

Screen Time

Sometimes, social media can become like a drug, because it's addicting to use and extremely easy to fall down the rabbit hole of mindless scrolling - I definitely fall victim to this. The interactive nature of apps such as Instagram, Tik Tok, and Facebook make it difficult to manage the time spent on your smartphone.

When you spend more time on your phone, less quality time is spent with your partner and this can foster feelings of neglect. The majority of partnered adults report feeling bothered by the amount of time their partner spends on their smartphone. It's time to put the phone's down!

Couples who don't use social media are reportedly happier in their marriages as opposed to couples who regularly use it.

Connection

Posts, likes, and comments are all great ways to interact and connect with people. And yes it is possible to form connections with people through this. However think of it this way: every minute you spend checking your Instagram feed or swiping through Tinder, you miss out on opportunities to connect with people in real life.

A few days ago, I was at a cafe and while waiting in line I noticed this girl sitting at a table either on a date or with a man who I assumed to be her boyfriend. She was speaking and kept looking at him, and he kept looking down eyes glued to his phone- probably watching Instagram reels. Finally, at some point she got frustrated and I watched her stand up one and stormed off to the car, to which he rolled his eyes and followed after her.

The issue with this is that the guy was so consumed with checking social media, he neglected the beautiful girl he had right in front of him who was trying to connect with him. Were the brainrot videos really worth more than having a genuine and potentially entertaining conversation with a real person in front of him?

That is the problem with social media, it takes our attention away from things right in front of us that matter.

Another Example

How many times have you walked down the street and passed a sea of walking pedestrians looking down completely absorbed in their phones? I witness this every day on my walk to class. Now, granted, I'm not saying that two strangers might look at each other and fall in love if they weren't on their phones. But, what I can say is that by checking social media while waiting to cross the street, you're missing yet another opportunity to interact with a person in real life right next to you. Maybe that cute guy at the crosswalk was checking you out, but you completely missed your chance by choosing to scroll instead.

Moral Of The Story

While social media has become an integral part of connecting with others in today's world, it is a romantic contraceptive. Don't base a relationship on the relationships you see online. Put the phone down. Be present in the moment.