By: Jack Deamer and Asia Morris
Internet dating changed traditional dating at its core.
Online dating surged in popularity in the early 2000s, with websites like eHarmony, Match.com, and culminating in the rise of Tinder, among other dating applications. While online dating was like second nature to younger individuals, older generations seemed to not comprehend the concept of online dating.
Jeff Morris who is a grandparent states his bewilderment. “It is beyond my capability to imagine someone trying to have a relationship with a person they can not see. I can’t even fathom it..” The older generations highlight the differences in our modernized dating life.
Now younger generations are stuck swiping left and right trying to find true love or someone to “hangout with”. There is no more going out to your local coffee shop and getting a girl’s number to hope that it was her number and not a fake, it’s “hey what’s your insta?” “hey what’s your snap”. This leads to relationships being based more on how a person looks then what their personality is like off camera.
This led to more teens wanting to just “hangout” then actually get to know the person that they had approached. Leaving many people heartbroken or misled, this is not the appropriate thing to do just cause it is normalized by the public.
Online dating can be viewed as daunting, the anonymity of the internet is quite terrifying. Media portrays shows like Dateline or “Catfish”, to underscore the significance of not knowing the identity of the person on the other side of the screen. MaryBeth a young single mother of 3 voices her fear of online dating saying, “the thought of online dating scares me, I don’t want to end up featured on an episode of Dateline.”
Traditions and practices have changed due to culture changing in our day to day lives. Texting “here” to a date felt more innovative than walking up to the parents door introducing yourself. A college student Cannon Erwin states. “ I feel like it’s somewhat sketchy not to walk up and introduce yourself. If it is just the guy texting them here, their parents don’t know who their daughter is off with.”
Personal introductions provide a sense of trust and safety with the family members. One Fremont mother interviewed for this article states, “I teach my sons to be formal as they date.” She described that means meeting parents, opening doors and being respectful. ” These formal things make the parents feel more comfortable when they see their daughter go out. A simple face-to-face interaction and a handshake can go a long way in today’s digital age.
Mrs. Meadors, an English teacher, in an interview talks about how kids don’t have the “Rizz” they used to have. She says “ “. This is talking about how kids don’t really flirt anymore and if they do they are kinda mean in a way, throwing backhanded compliments in an attempt to win the girls over. Meadors also mentions that online dating isn’t as bad as people think if you know how to do it.
Dating will constantly be changing, making boys and girls find new ways to make the other fall for one another. People all have different wants and needs when it comes to dating so go out there and find someone who finishes your puzzle.
