As children, we read and watched fairy tales, such as Snow White or Cinderella. These fairy tales depicted the perfect yet predictable love story. Love seemed to come effortlessly to both, the prince and the princess. They fell deeply in love, married, and lived happily ever after. They did not go through the aches and pains of dating and were not faced with the situations conveyed in a romantic comedy (love at first sight, a catastrophic event or misunderstanding, resolution, and finally living happily ever after). Perhaps, finding true love was simpler in those times– before technology.
As much as we would like to believe that the perfect fairytale exists for everyone, finding a person to build a long lasting relationship with is virtually impossible in today’s world. There is nothing proving that people have changed over the years, but unfortunately technology has changed the way we live in more ways than one. With the growth of social networking sites, such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and of course the increased use of cell phones; people are able to broaden their list of potential mates with the click of a button.
With all the advancements in technology, we are allowed to communicate and build relationships with people locally and even globally. Although this advancement has proven to be useful for society, it has morphed the integrity of a large majority of people. Going back to the past decades, before there were cell phones or Internet, people used their house phones. If you truly wanted to get in contact someone, house phones would be a main source of communication.
People were forced to keep plans and be more truthful about their whereabouts. Fast-forward to the present, people no longer give out their house phone numbers. Instead they have cell phones that allow them to be anywhere and still have a conversation through texting.
This all seems very convenient, but there is a downside. Technology has made it easier for people to lie. Someone could be telling you that they are at home bored and watching television, meanwhile they are at their girlfriend or boyfriend’s house. A person could be in a relationship with someone, but their Facebook status says “single.” They will leave it as single to attract other partners! Let’s face it, dating is already a difficult task; adding more people to the equation is not simplifying it.
Lately, I have encountered people who are afraid of commitment. The reason, in part, is that they have too many options. They can communicate with different people on Facebook or Twitter instantly and build relationships. These relationships are enough to prevent people from committing to just one person, fearful of losing their other potential relationships. It is thrilling to have multiple friendships, but when will it ever be enough? Is it even possible to find all the desired qualities in just one person when you can have them all?