First dates are always awkward. Getting to know someone is a tedious task; you don't want to make a joke about cat ladies to your date, who has seven cats. No fear, dating has been redefined. Say goodbye to your typical dinner and movie, and say hello to Netflix and chill. With apps like Tinder, Bumble, Plenty of Fish, and OkCupid on the rise, you don't see couples going on traditional dates. It's all about "talking" and hanging out.

Dating culture as we once knew it is now just an endless cycle of texting. If two people ever break that cycle, it's usually by hanging out with a group of people rather than one-on-one. This is most likely a direct result of how awkward and uncomfortable it would be to meet someone in real life after talking to them for weeks over text. Traditional courtship hardly exists anymore. It's easier to invite a "date" to a concert you were already planning to see with friends, or ask them to go to a party with all of your friends. In today's society, people are more comfortable with meeting their potential significant others online to test their chemistry before they really invest in a relationship.

One benefit to dating apps is that, after talking for a week, if you don't think it's a good match, you just stop talking. You weren't dating, or in a relationship, so no harm. Dating apps hold more possibilities, like introducing you to somebody you wouldn't have crossed paths with. On the other hand, can you really get to know someone without seeing them in person? Anybody can put up a facade, and you'd be in for quite a surprise when you finally meet. We've all seen MTV's Catfish.

What do you think--are online dating apps creating a whole new world of dating, or are they putting an end to modern dating?