To say social media has had a profound effect on how individuals interact is certainly not overstating the facts. The popularity of resources like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat has led to so many people taking advantage of online platforms to connect with friends and family. Not to mention prospective partners. Here are some of the ways that social media is influencing relationships.
We have so many options
Once upon a time, singles who were looking for potential partners for a relationship had a relatively limited range of options available to them. At the weekend they might head into their local singles bars or nightclubs where they would be presented with a selection of possible candidates for romance. The problem is they would bump into the same individuals, week in week out, and there would be a limited likelihood of ever encountering people who were outwith their local geographic catchment area. The advent of social media and online dating has changed all that completely. You can interact with so many people by using a variety of platforms like this, building relationships and introducing yourself to a diverse cross-section of talent. There are sites catering to every possible aspiration, whether you are particularly interested in dating divorcees, or are looking for casual encounters or marriage.
Communication is instant, and available 24/7
Pre-social media, singles might take some time to nurture a relationship and get to know potential partners. Various online platforms have been introduced that have revolutionized the possibilities. We can now get in touch with people we are drawn to in a few keyboard clicks. The technology is there to make an instant impression by uploading photographs to our favorite social media outlets and inviting people we might be interested in to make comments. There are all sorts of messenger services available that provide a streamlined communication platform, with the ability to pass messages at any time.
Social media encourages shorthand
An unfortunate aspect of social media is the way that it can provoke a sense of urgency to the extent that people no longer spend a great deal of time fretting over what they are going to say. Previously, potential partners might communicate in a variety of methods, including phone calls or even writing letters. Nowadays, we all have access to smart devices where we can type out messages in a short space of time. One side effect of this is that subtle nuances can be lost in translation, with messages being misinterpreted.
We can see the bigger picture
Social media is multi-layered. You could be communicating with someone you are interested in via a dating site, but at the same time you could quite readily check out other aspects of their background by poring over their Facebook pages or Twitter feeds. This shouldn’t necessarily be seen as snooping – perhaps a more accurate description would be merely taking an interest in the fact that people can have a considerable digital footprint these days. It is often worthwhile gauging the extent to which you can develop chemistry with someone by checking out their friendship group, paying attention to the hobbies they have.
Important connections can be lost in the noise
In traditional dating outlets such as bars or social functions, it was quite easy to develop one-to-one communication channels. Social media can be very distracting. You might be drawn to someone in particular and begin messaging them regularly, only to find yourself being torn in another direction because there is simply so much to pay attention to. While it can be very tempting to take advantage of all the options that are presented by social media, it is sometimes worthwhile to take a step backward and consider what type of relationship you are truly willing to commit to.