The challenge that arises when looking for a romantic partner is not new and is one that often requires help to solve. Modes of assistance have changed throughout history, but in our modern age, it's no surprise that romantic help comes in the form of technology, such as online dating platforms or chat rooms. The permanence of technology in courtship and dating is unshakable. Of all American heterosexual couples who met in 2009, one-fifth reported meeting for the first time online, which is double the number of couples who met in college (Orosz, Gabor). Of the 54 million single Americans, 41 million have tried dating sites at least once (Orosz, Gabor). Every year, an average user spends $239 per year on online dating services (Orosz, Gabor). Consequently, the need for an examination of its potential risks and implications cannot be underestimated, as it is vital to realizing society's hope for healthier and happier romantic relationships. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Technology has undoubtedly made it easier than ever to meet a romantic partner. However, the gospel of convenience and convenience of technology may pose problems for what has always been a vulnerable and intimate institution. For example, many studies have been conducted to examine the pervasiveness of dating violence conducted through technological means. Additionally, with technology now playing a critical role in instigating and strengthening relationships, self-disclosure is a major concern today, especially among teenagers. Additionally, online communication now presents a new and more covert way to be unfaithful in relationships. Therefore, with the prevalence of online dating platforms on the rise, society needs to take a hard look at the effects it may have on romantic relationship dynamics, particularly in the areas of dating violence, self-disclosure, and infidelity. Online dating is definitely a product of today's overcrowded and overstimulated world. Before the modern era, arranged marriages were the standard of “matchmaking” for most of the world, and a love connection arose secondarily, if at all. Until recent history, couples married young, and if an individual remained single into their twenties, it was associated with severe social stigma and these individuals were often considered undesirable (Flug, 2016). However, with the advent of the printing press in 1685, individuals were able to place matchmaking personal ads in newspapers (Flug, 2016). However, it was not until the 1930s and 1940s that dating began to be separated from courtship and for the first time dating was not considered as an intention to marry (Flug, 2016). While this thinking still persists in the modern era, it is now accompanied by a growing desire to pursue a career, marry later, and a decreased importance placed on the institution of marriage as a whole. With today's individuals busier than ever with career responsibilities, traditional dating norms simply take up too much of your precious time. In the 1990s, the trend of speed dating was born, providing a quick and convenient way for busy, work-focused people to still find romance. Lives move quickly and individuals no longer have time for old-school courtship (Tønder, 2008). The advent of the Internet in 1985 boomed in popularity, as did this new trendof dating, and in the end the two coincided, giving birth to the first online dating platform. Sites now cater to specific groups of individuals such as Black People Meet, Christian Mingle and Farmers Only, and more recently, the advent of the dating app has provided singles with countless other singles at the touch of a screen, based on desired geographic location. area and age group. Online dating has essentially replaced the need for old-fashioned courtship, and whether this replacement is good or bad, its results need to be evaluated. The rise of technology has created a new avenue for social interaction; one that studies have indicated could be used for negative agendas like dating violence. Electronic aggression and cyberbullying are now considered important public health problems, as a 50% increase in online harassment was reported from 2000 to 2005 (Draucker, Martsolf, 2010). In an ongoing qualitative study called “Teen Dating Violence: Developing a Theoretical Framework,” data is being collected describing how dating violence plays out through technology, in this case, among teens. One of the biggest cases of dating violence is in the case of monitoring or controlling a partner's activities or whereabouts (Draucker, Martsolf, 2010). In this data collection, examples included instances in which one partner checked on the other by calling and texting, often multiple times. In one case, a woman's partner called her 80 times a day when she left for college (Draucker, Martsolf, 2010). Likewise, individuals often scale back their activities to avoid an onslaught of calls and texts from their unhappy partner. Similarly, monitoring dating violence often results from a partner repeatedly reviewing their partner's text messages, calls, voicemails, etc. (Draucker, Martsolf, 2010). If infidelity is suspected or confirmed, violence often ensues. On the other hand, a scenario is also considered a case of dating violence if one partner limits the other's access to himself, for example by ignoring calls and texts, blocking himself on social media, or even changing his phone number ( Draucker, Martsolf, 2010). Finally, “young people also described how technology was used to end a relationship and, indeed, the majority of those who described this experience did so in a “practical way,” indicating that this was a common way. to end teenage relationships today” (Baker, Carreño, 2015). While these findings do not support the claim that technology increases dating violence, they do state that technology has changed the dynamic of relationships. Additionally, the increase in online dating corresponds with an increase in questions about self-disclosure, as individuals begin to pursue relationships with people they don't know offline. “Self-disclosure has been defined as any message about oneself that one individual communicates to another” (Gibbs, Ellison, Lai, 2011). Communication through technological means allows individuals to present themselves selectively, which consequently causes individuals to question the potential misrepresentation or outright deception of others (Gibbs, Ellison, Lai, 2011). People on dating sites want to present information that makes them stand out among others, but they are limited by the fear of revealing too much to a person they only know via computer. Online, an individual lacks the affirmation afforded by mutual friends or a shared social context than an offline context.