Technology has added an entirely new twist on the way we meet people, get to know one another and develop deep meaningful relationships.
With cell phones and the Internet at our fingertips, there is usually never a moment in the day we are not accessible. Is this sort of convenience really beneficial when beginning and maintaining a relationship, or are we simply too “easy” these days?
Most of you out there would admit your heart jumps a beat every time you log onto Facebook, and you see the little red number at the top of the screen informing you of a notification. Or the times when your phone starts to vibrate, and you weren’t expecting a text from anyone specific.
We feel special when someone tries to reach out to us and become interested in our lives.
But, are things like Facebook chat or text messaging too impersonal for more serious relationships? I can remember a few occasions when I have received messages from people on Facebook I’m not even friends with, asking me if I’d like to go out and get to know them.
In an attempt to sound as polite as possible, if I wanted to go out, wouldn’t I have already attempted to do so? Most of the time, I don’t even know the messengers.
To me, the informality in someone sending a Facebook message to ask out someone you’ve never met is insulting, proving rather effortless.            
Back in the day, there was a certain way to begin a romantic relationship. Boy calls girl, girl acts coy, boy picks girl up and meets parents, receives the “third degree” and is finally allowed to take her out.
While I’m not necessarily a fan of the formality of this idea, it makes some valid character points. It requires a type of respect toward the person in whom you are interested as well as the face-to-face meeting rather than meeting through a secondary form like texting.
It takes near-to-no effort to send a text or e-mail. The satisfaction of knowing your message has been sent to the significant other is instant. You don’t have to wait until after class or lunch time to begin talking to the person on your mind.
This allows for people to develop relationships much more quickly and easily. Is it somewhat of a cop out? Everyone knows to discuss a personal topic over a text can be much less awkward and easier to say things you wouldn’t say face-to-face. This simplicity could be damaging to the meaningfulness of our relationships.
Has our access to technology made it easier to work on superficial relationships and more difficult to actually “get to know” people? The most recent trends in dating are websites such as EHarmony, Match.com and Chemistry.com. All claim to offer matches and skills to building relationships with a significant other.
Twenty years ago, this method to “finding love” was unheard of. It is becoming more common and understandable in our culture, but many people are still skeptical for the so-called “online love.”
ABC covered a story on the famed dating site, EHarmony.
In its report, it documented that behind the workings of the website is a mathematical equation composed of nearly 280 questions in a personal survey that someone seeking to join the site must complete. EHarmony specialists say they have studied and found ways to pair heterosexual couples, thus creating a connection found online.
For many, the thought of meeting your future mate over an Internet dating site is absolutely absurd, but are we not doing that already?
Thousands of connections are made via Facebook on a daily basis. Even if you already were familiar with someone, social networking sites such as this allow those relationships to form and grow on a much faster and, in my opinion, impersonal level.
Are we finding security hiding behind a computer screen or a cell phone? Are we afraid to face people today for the ultimate fear of rejection?
This technology has revolutionized how we form bonds in the 21st century.
We must then choose whether to join the bandwagon and continue dating primarily through texting and e-mails, or step out and expect more from our partners on a deeper personal level.
Sarah Ulmer is a sophomore majoring in communication. She can be contacted at [email protected].