Technology has been part of the dating game for a while, but in recent years with the increase of online dating apps, smart phones and social media platforms, the use of technology in the dating world has transformed into a trend that doesn’t appear to be dying anytime soon!
So whether you’re into using technology as a part of your dating experience or not, you’re bound to have some experience dealing with technology at some point in time. Some important to conversations to have with your partner may include the following:
- What are the rules around social media applications such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Snapchat, etc.?
- Do we post our relationship status online?
- Is it ok to friend and/or follow my friends?
- What is your comfort level around making comments about our relationship online?
- What are the expectations around responding to text messages? Do you expect for me to text back in a certain amount of time? How often to you expect to communicate via text message as opposed to talking on the phone or meeting in person?
- What are your expectation about sharing passwords to various online accounts?
- What are your feelings around sharing photos and sexting?
Remember, there are no hard and fast rules as to how you should utilize technology in your dating relationships. Some relationships are more fluid and open with partners not having an issue with certain types of online communication. Regardless of your feelings around incorporating technology into your dating relationship/(s) it’s important to have open, honest conversations about your feelings and expectations with the person/(s) you’re involved with.
Be careful with how you choose to engage in relationships online. While not intended to scare you, it’s important to remember that people can be deceptive in how they choose to engage with others online. Sometimes individuals may not reveal the entire truth about themselves (i.e. sharing false photos or information). This is certainly not the case in ALL online relationships, but it’s important to be careful.
So remember, before you post “It’s Complicated,” as your relationship status on Facebook, remember that utilizing technology in your dating relationships can also be just as complicated!