Is Social Media Giving Love A Chance?

Photo by bottled_void, Flickr

By Catherine Aylward

Social media has completely changed the way we approach

romantic relationshipsPhoto by Photosteve101, Flickr

Most dramatically, way we first get to know each other

Photo by Bahman Farzad, Flickr

Before social media, this was an arduous process Photo by Phillie Casablanca, Flickr

Likegettingthe nerve to approach someone

Photo by Freddie Peña, Flickr

a conversation over dinner Photo by GaryPaulson, Flickr

or a phone call

Photo by Mike Cattell, Flickr

But now, a few clicks and you know almost everything about them

Photo by Andalib, Flickr

Photo by Catherine Aylward

All their pictures

Photo By Catherine Aylward

all their thoughts

all their interests

Photo by Catherine Aylward

and whatever’s left.

Photo by Catherine Aylward

Photo by Catherine Aylward

Goodbye butterflies and excitement,  

I already know everything about you -Allison McCann Buzzfeed

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Participants almost universally cited Facebook as their primary tool for interaction

early in the experimenting stage of romantic relationship development- Jesse Fox, in I Now Pronounce You FBO:

Facebook Official by Tom Jacobs

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Photo by erix!, Flickr

But this may lead to a path of serious misjudgment –

Photo by Geodesic, Flickr

One of the differences between our self-image in real life and online is more ability to change our look

“and also mask our identity

-Christine Erickson, Mashable ”Photo by Tharikrish, Flickr

misjudgment can come from how someone decides to express themselves online

Photo by KellBailey, Flickr

Taking "selfies" and posting them on social media might not be as vain as it

seems  - Jillian McHugh WAtoday

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Photo by MollyBob, Flickr

We need to stop and think about the judgments we are making

Photo by LisaW123, Flickr

So we can see

who a person really is Photo by Andalib, Flickr

Otherwise, we may lead ourselves in a trap of missed opportunity

Photo by Moosealope, Flickr