In the 21st century, where artificial intelligence and different technological platforms are constantly changing, this raises the question of whether love is possible in a digital age.
Currently, lots of people are using social media and online websites to connect with others and meet new people across the globe. However, this does raise the concern of fake identities and false personalities. People have become so accustomed to this method of communication that loving relationships with significant others or even friends have been almost impossible to maintain.
To answer the question directly, no. Love is not possible in a digital age. Here is why.
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Rising in popularity every second, social media is constantly updating and developing to introduce new features and tasks that can be completed with just a click of your finger. Something that most people don't realize is how doomscrolling can affect relationships. Everyone is aware that doomscrolling is "bad," but most scrollers are unaware of the actual effects.
Mindlessly staring at your screen and absorbing useless information spikes stress hormones, fueling depression, anxiety, and therefore isolating you from real life. Unfortunately, this is the easy solution. Waiting in a line?
Start scrolling. Finished your work? Start scrolling. Long car ride? Start scrolling.
However, nobody questions or stops to think about what the world was like before social media was invented. People would talk to each other to pass the time. If there ever was awkward silence, it would fill up with chatter, important or not.
Strangers would interact, shaping a kinder world. Friends would celebrate free time by hanging out and making memories. Families and friends would sing and play games on road trips.
Tell this to someone today, and their eyebrows will shoot straight up. Additionally, social media and even television nowadays implement such rigid standards about love. Controversially, these standards are set low.
Women fantasize about a man opening the door for them, carrying their bags, waiting for them to get ready, buying them flowers, when, truly, this is typical treatment that all women deserve. Instead, it is applauded as princess treatment. This trains both genders to believe that, right now, in this society, these are the standards considered elite in love.
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Physical Interactions
Due to the increasing time spent online on social media and other networking sites, it provides an easier method of communication than face-to-face conversations. This lack of physical connection makes it harder for people to understand others' emotions and feelings.
It is ironic how easily people can connect through a screen, but once they meet in person, it's suddenly awkward and uncomfortable. But if talking to another human being is as difficult as it is now, there is no doubt why it is almost impossible to build a strong and genuine connection with others in love or even as friends.
To address the topic more literally, physical acts of love have been failing to uphold the romanticism and the delicacy of a relationship. Thirst traps have become a new and popular topic on the internet, as well as other ideas that signify lust over love. It is more desirable nowadays to move quicker through a relationship and boast to others about immature matters like first to third base, body count, kiss count, and other supposed "trends" that are inadvertently implied as competition between both boys and girls.
Observing love from decades back, there were butterflies over hands brushing, an arm over a shoulder, a kiss on the cheek, or even a small wave from across the street. In this generation, the standards and supposed normalities that are displayed on the internet objectify both genders and emphasize desire and excitement.
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Dating Apps
Nowadays, people who are unable to find a partner resort to dating apps. To some, this is a common and easy way to find someone else looking for a relationship who shares similar interests with them. Unfortunately, dating apps have their consequences, too.
By using apps and websites formatted like this, people have become accustomed to the culture of discarding a relationship and ignoring someone just to move on to another. In depth, this means that instead of working towards solving a conflict, people swipe and pass on to another option. This loses the effort that people put into relationships and the perseverance that is required to keep a love going.
Back then, women and men didn't have dating apps, so does that mean nobody was able to find a husband or wife? No, people actually worked to find people or lived their own lives until somebody came along.
This process is a more natural and reasonable way to date because it doesn't force people to have certain characteristics or traits that are likeable to the public, but instead, these two people go through the ups and downs of their relationship together until they figure out what they want.
The technology that is handed to people in this generation allows for more laziness and simplicity because of the yearning for a quick and easy relationship. However, that is not love; it's just a fling. To find real love, people must put their phones down and stop judging based on looks and an electronic biography. Instead, people should talk to others in person and apply body language and tone of voice to build a genuine connection.
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Love is a really difficult thing to have in general, but it is even harder in this day and age with all of the standards and preconceived ideas about it. Technology complicates love through social media and the process of becoming more used to talking to a screen rather than another human in the real world.
Nevertheless, love is not impossible for those willing to work towards a meaningful relationship through physical interactions and connections. Everyone deserves to feel love and be loved, and with this in mind, anyone can feel the butterflies and warmth of love.
