What's your take on the influence of social media on dating dynamics?

[Anonymous]

[RavVid]

Social media seems to have lead to a steady rise in narcissism. All those likes reinforcing you are a superior person. So much so it is being described as an epidemic. Even before social media, self important self description increased six fold from the 1960's to the 90's. So not just social media - there was already a trend to praise children beyond what was justified.

If girls are asked on various channels every single one says they are a 10. Guys seem to be more realistic but then not many are asked so we don't really know. There is certainly a lot of positive feedback - "your fantastic", "you're wonderful" etc etc.

You probably only need to imbibe praise lightly to think you deserve a better than average partner. After all you are amazing, fantastic, wonderful, and so beautiful.

It doesn't really help that the qualities that are wanted start defining a very small pool of suitably qualified people. If qualities are independent the number of satisfactory partners decreases rapidly.

Maybe 1 in 3 have the quality you want. If you have 5, 1 in 3 qualities you want, then less than 1 in 100 will have those 5 qualities. Then is the question will that 1 in 100 person consider you to be a suitably qualified person for them? Most likely not, if you aren't genuinely 1 in 100 yourself.

So we had already become narcissists before social media but now it is on steroids and we have inflated opinions of our market value, we have an apparent large dating market, but an inability to do the maths on the number of people who have what we want and unrealism as to if we would meet their standards.

So I'd say it's all fuck up.

[Curmudgeon]

It has definitely exacerbated female "hypergamy". All too often, the female profiles on dating sites are not serious and the ladies in question just enjoy the validation and approval they may receive, or they decide to look around for a better guy that way.

[sage2021]

It gives too many ideas about how a guy is supposed to be, and too many ideas on how women should act. And now men hate women and women hate men, or they have to have a certain type of man according to what social media says he should come equipped with and being 6'2" and over, etc.
Instead of finding ways to have couples stay together it's more like it's normal to cheat.
When I was dating, no guys ever wanted to have sex with my asshole. But now that seems that's the place they want to go. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Tina19]

Social media is one of the major reason of fragile relationships nowdays people have the unrealistic expectations from their partner because of it plus people are more likely to cheat now since social media has given too many options

[Flatmanlewis]

I think it perpetuates a belief that some perfect fantasy life can be obtained, full of physically flawless men & women, a life of perpetual relaxation and bliss, and worst of all that everyone thinks just like you do about everything. It’s both polarizing and makes people feel sad and depressed that they don’t have the life they see so many others have, not realizing that it’s all a fabricated illusion.

[BourbonAndBacon]

When I was dating I put my IG on there to show where and what types of vacations I go on, what I do in my free time, to show I have friends and to verify that I am an actual person. It raises the bar to openness and honesty and I expect the same in return.

[IslaTheWitch]

I don't think SM have any impact.

If someone wants, then use them, if doesn't want, then not. Don't blame SM for something people are doing.

[Curmudgeon]

Well, are you familiar with the phrase "the medium is the message"?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_medium_is_the_message

Perhaps social media is still too new and it will take the reasoning of ordinary people some more years to catch up. Certainly earlier inventions like radio, television, etc. had an impact in their day.

[KrakenAttackin]

Social media has KILLED dating, marriage, and family. All this because of women's insatiable demand for attention and validation from people who are NOT their boyfriends, husbands, and children.

[Joshydavid25]

Terrible and unhealthy.. It's warped people's perception of everything a relationship should be.. Now a lot of people date to try and live with "social media" fantasy..

[Unit1]

It's like trying to extinguish an open fire with gasoline indoors.

This is not to say, that social media has some good use like gasoline does.

[Nikki1989]

It is destructive and add to that the pathetic texting habits, people have no hope.

[exitseven]

It is like training wheels that you can never take off

[DextroShade]

It has been an unprecedented disaster that previous generations couldn't even imagine.

[jimmy2]

Not a good thing in life
Personally life was much less stressful with out social media

[ThrillSeeker01]

It's too much, like the wild West... less personal

[FenixG45]

Ya, SM ruins dating. We need a good EMP!

[RedInnocent68]

It’s poor.

[AndrewAzul]

Ruins relationship