My very first "relationship" was in the seventh grade, which consisted of multiple texts and hugs in the hallway. We never really went out on a sit down dinner, unless it was with our parents since neither of us could drive or even pay for the date. I thought that would change as the years went on, but I couldn't be more wrong.
In my high school years, my relationships started from friendships, but never once was I asked on a date the very first time I met someone. What happened to this type of dating culture where a man would treat a women to a coffee or ice cream to get to know each other after meeting for the first time?
Our dating culture is forever changed due to the fact that we don't need to have face-to-face communication anymore. Ever since smartphones, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, you name it, no one really needs to get to know you by talking to you in person. They can just stalk your Instagram and get a gist of who you are. However, there is so much more to a person than their Facebook profile. Yeah, sure, we all say "We know," but so many people rely on Facebook for their first impression of a person.
So what does this have to do with dating? It's ruined the traditional dating culture by putting personal information out in the open. It allows someone to live vicariously through us as we post pictures of parties and trips. It makes people feel as if they know you on another level just because they see what you post. So instead of getting to know someone on a dinner date, it's much easier, and less expensive, to just check out their profile.
So when you actually meet someone in person for the first time, it feels like you've already known them because of all the information that's posted online. Your very first impression is no longer about how they carry themselves as a person, but how many likes they get on their Instagram post.
Not only has it ruined how we meet people, it's also ruined how we flirt. Since when does a like on your Facebook profile count more than someone holding the door open for you? Actions speak louder than words, and a "like" isn't an action, so don't take it as one.
It's time for everyone to take a step back and realize that technology, although we all take part in it, has changed how we date. So before blaming the college lifestyle for not dating, blame social media for the fact that we don't even need to get to know each other anymore, since we can just look at a simple profile instead.
