Is Technology Affecting Your Dating Life?

If you are over 50 years old, you know dating is significantly different than it was it was before 1995. Back then, there was no confusion about what a date meant to either person. A “date” could be defined as you and the person going out/meeting to spend time with each other in a romantic or special friendly way. Notice was necessary for a date–at least two or three days notification was required with the day, time, and place. Typically, the primary mode of communication was in person or voice to voice via phone conversation to plan this special event.

Dating was considered the preliminary stages of a relationship to discern future interactions. You were actively getting out and meeting people, generally focused on spending time with them. “Dating someone” meant you’re spending a significant amount of time with someone with purpose and on a regular basis.

Technology such as texting, social media direct messaging, dating websites, and dating apps have changed the dating scene and meaning dramatically.

Think about it! The first online dating service (www.Match.com) was created in 1995. By 2002, it had over 2 million subscribers. According to Forbes, as of 2013, there were over 2,500 dating services in the US alone. This diminishes the motivation to get out and meet people in person. Talking over the phone or meeting face to face in a public place to have a conversation appears less attractive when you have such accessibilities like looking at a profile picture and communicating via chat room, phone app, text messaging, and social media.

Dating or planning a date has become more of