Romance and Dating in the Digital Age: Impacts of Computer-Mediated Communication and a Global Pandemic

摘要

Scholars have described communication to be the currency, if not the lifeblood, of human relationships in general and romantic relationships more specifically. Through communication romantic relationships are solicited, established, maintained, and dissolved. For example, if prospective partners are to find one another, they must first communicate their desire and availability for romance. With a centuries-long history of intertwining between communication mediums and pursuit of romance—even the earliest newspapers included personal sections1—it was no surprise when the Internet and digital technologies became coopted for love and sexual expression. In short, whatever uses people may have for digital technology, romance and sex are clearly among them.