From exchanging heartfelt, lengthy letters to sending brief, impersonal texts to your partner. From longing to meet your beloved to casually discussing breaks in a relationship. Traditional dating is now officially a thing of the past. Many old-school romantics prefer to stay in the glorious past, but amidst the advancements around us, will those timeless ideologies endure?
Modern dating is now something almost everyone is trying to navigate. Back in the day, dating was equivalent to marrying that person. But now, dating is a phase every youth wants to experience before eventually getting married. Dating has now many forms- situational dating, friends with benefits (FWB), experimental dating, open dating, situationship, casual dating, and whatnot!
Why does modern dating feel so problematic? Many people now believe being single is the best phase of life, as relationships often suffer from communication gaps and emotional disconnect, even with tools like video calls, messaging, and social media. While technological advancements connect us, could social media ironically be the silent poison eroding modern relationships?
Social media & modern dating
Announcing relationships on social media, flaunting couple vacations, and sharing grand gestures have become the new norm. In this age of capturing private moments to share publicly, many relationships fall into the “Fake It Till You Make It” trap, prioritising appearances over authenticity.
Social media acts like a modern-day relative, constantly observing and judging. In the past, ignoring people was simpler, but how easy is it to ignore something that greets you first thing in the morning?
While “couple goals” dominate feeds, so does the fear of missing out (FOMO). Many feel their relationships fail to match the aesthetics or vibes trending online. In pursuit of validation, people often overlook the beauty of reality, seeking approval in a digital world instead.
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What Modern Dating Explores?
One of the positives of modern dating is the freedom to explore. Concepts like Roster Dating allow individuals to meet multiple people before committing to a partner. Gone are the days when compromising on issues like infidelity, or enduring physical and mental abuse, was normalised. In the past, the fear of being judged or labelled often kept people in unhealthy relationships.
Thankfully, times have changed. Today, people prioritise their mental well-being over societal judgment. While initiating a separation once branded someone as a "bad person," modern perspectives are gradually normalising the idea of choosing happiness and self-respect over staying in toxic relationships.
While the debate around modern-day relationships persists, perhaps the sweet spot lies in embracing a healthy relationship infused with that timeless old-school charm.
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