The rise of social networking sites and communication through cell phones has revolutionized the phase of life and love here on earth.
The way we communicate up to the approach we use to form and maintain relationships has changed from the conventional into a fast-paced and most of the time, hasty perspective of love.
Love letters have evolved into text messages. Courtship at home has changed and is now one tweet or one chat message away. The concept of girlfriend/boyfriend relationships has turned from traditional to digital.
“It’s easier to be in a relationship these days at the same time breakups also happen so fast since many don’t value relationships like before,” said Charisse Ursal, a junior college student.
Ursal , a self-confessed believer of traditional love, thinks that “even though technology has allowed easier communication, it has also provided an avenue for couples to exert lesser effort in keeping the relationship.”
She believes that young people should go back to the customary means of courtship because “it’s more sincere and romantic.”
It’s the same thing for Jea Azanza, also a junior college student. She believes that online communities changed the real essence of courtship.
“It is now taken for granted. A guy can just send a flattering text message if he wants to court a girl – saying the least number of words with the least possible effort. Just that easy,” she said.
She said that the value of patience has lost its way because that the whole idea of courtship/relationship has become “impersonal”.
“I don’t find any positive effects in courting or being in a relationship through social networking sites or through text messaging. For me, a lot of effort should be exerted if a man wants to win a woman’s heart,” she added.
But for Rarry Abatol, a sophomore Math student, social networking sites offer the chance of communication in cases where mobility is often a hindrance to social interaction.
On the context of interpersonal relationships, it allows constant communication, and it “bridges the gaps due to possible relationship problems”.
Even with the negative impacts, he believes that its constructive sense for relationships need to be acknowledged as it provides an easier way to communicate between couples, giving them a conducive avenue to be in touch with each other.
But in spite the share different points of view, they share a common denominator as they all believe that no matter what situation you are in or no matter what technology arrive, when true love hits a person, the value of commitment will always remain.
“Everything is changing but once love is found, the commitment stays and the joy you feel is different,” Ursal said.
Social media and instant text messaging has proven itself that they can be both huge positive and negative aspect to relationships, depending on how they are utilized.
We must always remember that at the end of the day these online communities and technology itself has continuously posed a great challenge into the significance, depth, and the length of every relationship.
For every relationship has a significant responsibility that comes with it, and that despite the innovations on these tweets, red notification balloons and text messages, we continually do our best to keep it and that we make it last forever.
