This just in: technology has ruined the idea of beautifully thought-out acts of romance. The rapidly increasing ability to communicate with each other over long distance, texting, and increasing numbers of social media accounts, has molded our generation into lazy romantics. Long gone are the days of love letters, flowers, sappy mix-tapes and showing up at a loved one's door step. Coffee-shop-encounters have been traded in for a sentimental swipe-right on Tinder, nerve-racking first dates have become drunken first hookups, and love letters have settled into sappy goodnight text messages. Although these standards may be sufficient for many of this generation, I just can't see the light in it.

The technology of today that supplies us with more than ample amounts of social media have converted us into a culture that revolves around image. For example, the app Tinder is used to match people that have "swiped right" on each other, signifying that they both find one another attractive. Only then will the two participants be able to learn about their interests and personalities. This gives the right away to basing modern dating on looks. This app also makes way for confusion and the question so commonly asked: "What are we?"

As hookup culture is a very present thing, an actual relationship is hard to find these days. Out of all of this comes the common appearance of selfies on Instagram and Facebook feeds. Our generation feels the need to post pictures of ourselves, and even worse, rely on the amount of "likes" these photos get to tell us how attractive we are. How does this tie into the demise of romance? Modern-day flirting: liking and/or commenting on posts. I've personally been a victim of it and found myself feeling giddy when a person of interest had liked or commented on something I posted. Many times, I've witnessed a friend post a self-taken portrait specifically to see if a significant other would react to it.

It's so easy to fall into the trap of this image-based, techno-romantic culture. This could be all fine and dandy, besides the fact that this epidemic is singlehandedly ruining the self-esteem of people everywhere. As the awareness of a person's self-worth decreases, so do their standards regarding romance and relationships. It's safe to say that these image-based dating websites and social media platforms could be the root of so many problems in relationships today. It is so much easier to send a text than to write a letter. It's way more convenient and less nerve-racking to call than it is to show up at their door. An Instagram like or comment is more comfortable than a quirky, flirtatious attempt at a compliment in person. These things may all be true, but ask yourself: Is it enough?

Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, and maybe I should just accept that this is the world I'm living in, but it's disappointing to feel that I have to do so. Romance is one of the most beautiful things we as humans have developed throughout our existence. Vulnerable, embarrassing and goofy acts of love should be appreciated and not lost in this huge gust of new technology. Finding a balance between the advantages of the new and the beauty of the old is very important in romance these days. Hookups should not be a sufficient replacement for a first date, and I promise the personality will make or break a relationship faster than their appearance. The new "OK" does not have to be image-based love and likes on Instagram.