The twenty-first century is the age of technologies, online communication, web-life, and social networks. There are thousands of websites that make people’s lives comfortable and let them chat without going outside and spending time on the road to meet. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and a significant number of online dating applications have become an essential and integral part of the lives of adolescents. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the connection between technology and dating and examine two articles that investigate the influence of this phenomenon on teenagers’ interpersonal relationships.
In the current era, there has been an unbelievable increase in adolescent usage of technologies and computer-mediated interpersonal interactions. Vaterlaus et al. note that there is a connection between the teenagers’ consumption of media and romantic beliefs, sexual perceptions, and gender stereotypes (652). Love expectations of adolescents are influenced by television viewing, and it demonstrates the power of visual effects, pretty picture, and the repetitive idea of a perfect love story that is waiting for everyone. The online-survey proved that entertainment media and interactive technology have an effect on adolescent dating relationships (Vaterlaus et al. 658). Thereby, it is possible to claim that social networks and television create and promote expectations for young romantic relationships, and teenagers’ model behaviors glean from consuming entertainment media.
Two of the common motivations for using social media is maintaining relationships and interacting with romantic alternatives. However, there is a significant concern with social media – due to its compulsive use, it has the possibility of developing an addiction and unrealistic expectations. Researchers note that “contemporary adolescents rely heavily on technology and media to navigate romantic connections.” (Vaterlaus et al. 651). It has negative impacts on their quality and may result in a higher risk of divorce, breakup, low commitment, relationship dissatisfaction, and physical and emotional infidelity. Moreover, according to Abbasi, “excessive social networking websites use adversely affects romantic relationships due to jealousy, envy, suspicion, surveillance, and infidelity” (425). To escape these consequences, teenagers need to reduce the time spent on technologies.
To draw a conclusion, one may say that although social media and technology facilitate the lives of people and make them more entertained, they have some negative impacts. Their effect on the idea of adolescent romantic relationships is proven. Hence, there is a necessity in reducing teenagers’ dependence on and usage of entertainment media so that it does not influence them privatively.
Works Cited
Abbasi, Irum Saeed. “Social Media and Committed Relationships: What Factors Make Our Romantic Relationship Vulnerable?” Social Science Computer Review, vol. 37, no. 3, 2019, pp. 425–434.
Vaterlaus, J. Mitchell, et al. “The Perceived Influence of Media and Technology on Adolescent Romantic Relationships.” Journal of Adolescent Research, vol. 33, no. 6, 2018, pp. 651–671.