DIGITALLY CONNECTED:

How Tech is Transforming Relationships

- Gabriel Pe

There's an irony when talking about tech and relationships. We often hear that technology is ruining relationships and that the intimacy of relationships has fizzled out because of our phones and other screens. Yet technology has also enhanced relationships, made connections accessible, and opened the possibility of relationships that might never have happened.

How Tech Has Improved Relationships

Technology has changed how we build relationships, whether romantic or not. You may not notice it at the time, but we utilize technology every day to maintain our current relationships.

Communication is credited as one of the major factors in keeping a healthy relationship. Of course, talking every day to a significant other is already natural for most of us. For those living together, this is no problem, but for those apart – that’s no problem either. The arrival of phones (both mobile and landline), the internet, and social media has made it possible to talk and stay in touch with your loved ones instantaneously. Video calling, in particular, has brought a new level of closeness, bridging the gap for families and couples separated by distance.

The same technology that opened the door to daily communication has also changed the way we enter relationships. Prior to the digital age, there were pen pals. When the internet came, there were message boards and chat rooms. Now, apps like Discord have opened the door to meeting more people with the same hobbies or interests as you, expanding the possibilities for both friendships and romantic connections.