Love in the Age of Social Media

Can true love flourish in the age of social media? It’s an interesting question to consider. Social media and digital media have produced rapid and profound changes on the ways that people interact with one another – but have they changed human nature itself? Not likely.

As little as ten years ago, the idea of finding love on the Internet was a punch line to a late-night comedian’s joke. Online relationships and meeting people through only services was rare, and if the media spoke of it at all, it was to warn people against it. Today, according to one study, one in five couples started their relationships online. In fact, online dating sites are among the biggest advertisers on social media, and many are among the largest ecommerce sites online. These online dating sites have taken the place of the matchmaker, but is there something missing when you turn the beginning of a relationship into a commercial transaction?

The rise of digital media and social media affect love and relationships in more ways than that, though. The ease of interacting with others from a distance gives rise to many behaviors that most people would never engage in if they were face to face. Couples who might otherwise spend time talking with each other might choose instead to insulate themselves from the relationship and its intimacy by immersing themselves in online communications or watching movies and videos online.

And yet, many couples who met online have gone on to fall in love and have rich, healthy relationships. Is there something special about these couples or people that overcomes the distance and impersonality of the online environment and allows love to flourish?

In fact, the very same factors that make healthy face to face relationships characterize healthy online relationships and can lead to deeper feelings and eventually falling in love. Those factors have everything to do with the integrity of the people involved in the relationship. They include honesty and openness, being trustworthy and being respectful of others and their feelings.

It’s important to recognize that social media is just another medium for communication, and to evaluate your interactions with others in the realm of the digital world by the same criteria you use to evaluate your interactions with those you see face to face. Avoid those who are disrespectful, or who abuse your trust by sharing intimate information with others. Be honest about yourself and expect honesty from others.

The digital world has opened many new opportunities, both personal and professional. Digital television offers the chance to tailor your entertainment to your own preferences. Pay per view events and movies allow you to support the artists and speakers you most trust. And social media is yet another avenue for meeting people and possibly finding love.