new technology and romantic relationships

There has been a great deal of research done on intimate relationships and emerging technologies. Texting, Skype, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, and other ways of technological networking allow people to stay in touch with others they care for on a regular basis. Zoe Vlastos conducted studies on the use of technology in intimate relationships as well as the stories behind the romantic relationships. Vlastos discovered that technology fosters fragile, emotional intimacy as well as close links to intimate relationships. Texting is the most basic means of contact, and social media has redefined what dating used to look like. The face-to-face channel has given way to online dating (Vlastos 19). The results of the research indicated that the internet and the mobile phones had made relationships to become more complicated despite its benefit of ensuring that the relationship-building becomes easier than in the old times. Lastly, the researcher argued that the new technology has given individuals a better way to foster love, ability to control their responses, become the unauthentic self, never feel alone and avoid uncomfortable conversations (Vlastos 22).

Allie Kirk also carried out research on the effect of the newer communication technologies on the relationship satisfaction and maintenance in the long-distance dating relationships. He found out that the new technological environment has transformed the romantic relationships. Online dating allows the teen daters to feel quite closer to the romantic partners (Allie, 5). However, it can feed jealousy as well as uncertainty regarding the stability of the relationships that they have engaged themselves. Moreover, people have been using the social media as the flirting tactics which make the targeted individuals to become more uncomfortable and enhances the online sexually suggestive behaviors.

Additionally, Nina Lucido studied the communication habits and the relationship satisfaction of the romantic relationships among the college students. The researcher argued that text messaging and the online dating have become the more prevalent forms of the young adults’ romantic relationships. People usually interact on Facebook and share their photos that have text messages to their loved ones (Lucido 59). Young people prefer text messaging since it allows them to convey information that they cannot tell their loved ones face-to-face which include the inappropriate things. One may spend a lot of time replying to numerous to a person’s texts which may not have clear intentions to the receiver. The use of sexting on the online dating may results to humiliations on the social media if the lovers broke up and one decides to expose their body images for the public to see it. Technology has led to the increase on the extra-marital affairs as a result of the challenges that root from the trust as well as betrayal in the romantic relationships (Lucido 73).

Furthermore, Ron Bean conducted research on the impacts of technological communications on the quality of romantic relationships where he examined the roles of the attachment representations as well as the rejection sensitivity (Bean 46). The researcher found out that the new technology is transforming the habits and behavior of the people in the romantic relationships. The computer-mediated communication enables individuals to express their expectations, convey their deep wishes and fears regarding the intimate relationships. He argued that most of the respondents surveyed and those who participated in the interviews conclude that text messaging and the online dating enables couples to remain intact with their loved ones. Furthermore, the new technology has been beneficial since it allows persons to express themselves in a friendly manner with less judgment that can hurt others as opposed to the face-to-face interactions (Bean 51).

Analysis and discussion

The new technology plays a significant role in enhancing the daily interactions of those who are in the romantic relationships. Texting, online dating, e-cards, emailing and sharing links or photos provides opportunities for further communication and connecting with the loved ones throughout the day. Despite its benefits of making people feel closer to their individual partners through the online or the text messages, more convenient and cheaper, the new technology has negative impacts on the romantic relationships. Sexting, where a person sends text messages with the explicit sexual content has increased among the adults, and it is as a result of technology.

The technological advancements have contributed to more stress as well as challenges in the intimate relationships as it breaks the closeness or friendliness the partners had in the beginning. One can get too much distracted on the cell phone. As a result, there are more arguments among adults who are in romantic relationships regarding the time one has to spend on the computer devices.

In summary, the new technology has opened opportunities for further connections of the exciting possibilities that did not previously apply. The digital technologies have enabled the romantic relationships to develop, grow and endeavor. However, it can also provide the new spaces to breach the trust. Thus, it is fundamental for the couples to share the intimate relationships and use new technologies of communication when they are not closer to each other.

Works Cited

Allie, K. “The Effect of Newer Communication Technologies on Relationship Maintenance and Satisfaction in Long-Distance Dating Relationships,” Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research: Vol. 1(2), 2013, p.3-6. http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/pjcr/vol1/iss1/2 Accessed May 16, 2017

Bean, R.C. Romantic Relationship Quality and Technological Communication: Examining the Roles of Attachment Representations and Rejection Sensitivity, 2015, p.43-52. http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5638&context=etd Accessed May 16, 2017

Lucido, N. Communication Habits and Relationship Satisfaction within College Students’ Romantic Relationships, 2015, p.57-79.

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/112142/nlucido.pdf?sequence=&isAllowed=y Accessed May 16, 2017

Vlastos, Z. “Technology in Love: Stories of Change in Romantic Relationships”. All Regis University Theses. Paper 653, 2014, p.2-23 http://epublications.regis.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1654&context=theses Accessed May 16, 2017