In many ways, technology has elevated how we all communicate and connect, making it far easier to find love in our modern age. Still, while easier, it's more complicated to stay connected with those we love the most, as this fast-paced, content-driven, always-on world seems always to continue going.
The very same technology we use to make our lives easier may be detrimental to how we connect and stay connected, as evidenced in a lengthy study published by Pew Research Center.
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Distractions are a dime a dozen these days. A lot is going on in our lives, from work to everyday entertainment. Even amid our alone time, we can often be bombarded with a variety of significant distractions, the most prominent among them being our smartphones and the unlimited amount of content scattered across social media. According to Pew Research, the smartphone alone is one of the most complex forms of technology.
The study, which was initially published in 2020, maintains that the digital age is fraught with a myriad of dating issues stemming from the overuse of social media and smartphones. The survey took place in October 2019, not just three months or so before the start of the global pandemic. It specifically targeted US-based individuals who were either married, in a committed relationship, or living together.
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More than half of those surveyed, about 51%, were concerned with their partner's smartphone use, explaining they seem distracted by the device when attempting to have a conversation. The amount goes up by 1% when focusing on 18 to 29-year-olds (52%) and up to 62% for those aged between 30 to 49. These tech-related issues don't affect the younger crowd, as even middle-aged and older individuals feel the repercussions of innovation.
Given the aftermath of the pandemic, these numbers may well have changed for the worse. Work from home and lockdowns made our lives terminally online as the outside world was shunned to do an ever-rising death toll. While the pandemic isn't a significant threat today, it still looms in the background.
It's a strange phenomenon we are now facing. When I was growing up, though highly irrational, often relationships wouldn't seem official until the couple set it as so on Facebook. Today, however, much of that mentality has changed. Dating applications have yet to flourish in our digital era, seeing a meteoric rise since 2013 to an ever-still blossoming future.
According to Business of Apps, the dating app market took home a whopping $5.61 billion despite the pandemic in 2021. The same report shows nearly 323 million active users worldwide on sites like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and more. Although helpful in connecting us, according to a CloudWords survey, 41% of people think online relationships are less likely to last. In comparison, a whopping 54% of online daters say such apps are more successful than in-person meetups.
Tech is always a tug-of-war battle. On one side, it is beneficial in various ways for both mundane and highly advanced tasks. Yet, on the other hand, technology can often get in the form of what we most cherish - whether that be time with our loved ones or with ourselves. The endless scrolling on such platforms as Twitter and TikTok can drown out the sounds of our life passing by us. It's always important to stay grounded in reality, and tech doesn't often allow us that privilege.
This Valentine's Day marks an essential step towards living our lives less tech-obsessed. We don't need to be terminally online or permanently attached to our phones. The day of love is unique, wherein the distractions should be ignored as best as possible in the face of genuine human connections. So, put the phone down and take some time to give love to those around you.
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