Relationships 2.0
I conclude that the internet has already altered, and is likely to alter dramatically, the dynamics of professional and social relationships, as well as romantic relationships.
When it comes to the internet and social media, the numbers don't lie or disguise the truth: there's a transformation happening in the world of relationships that's not so noisy, but visceral.
Among the statistics that most caught my attention, I would list the following:
1. - Of the most common ways to meet people, online dating is in second place, only surpassed by meeting friends of friends;
2. - More than a third of marriages in the US began with online dating;
3. One in five couples meet online.
4. If Facebook were a country, it would be the third largest in the world and twice the size of the US population;
5. - Since 2011, the phenomenon of social media has surpassed the online pornography industry;
6. - One in five divorces is attributed to Facebook. In the UK today, it's one in three.
7. One in two Americans is on Facebook. In Brazil, one in four.
8. - A recent study in England says that excessive use of Facebook produces Facebook-induced jealousy and significantly increases the risks of infidelity, breakups, and divorces in couples of all ages.
For all these reasons and many more, I conclude that the internet has already altered, and tends to alter tsunami-like, the dynamics of professional and social relationships, as well as affective relationships. Stimuli and temptations are now readily available 24 hours a day. It's no use saying that our grandparents faced similar temptations and betrayed in the same way. No. Today, with a simple smartphone in hand, we have, on Facebook alone, 1 billion people to connect with. Being "present" on social media has become an addiction for many and a cause of psychological distress for so many others.
Depending on the concept of fidelity one considers (and if it's not limited to physical things), I dare say that today, few are truly faithful (in the strictest sense of the word), considering the universe of people who use the internet and frequent social media, especially Facebook. Therefore, jealousy increases and reinforces relationships. There's already an app on Facebook that creates fake boyfriends to provoke jealousy in others, I swear.
In this scenario of emotional pathology, distrust increases, as do arguments and separations. At the same time, no one can stop because the temptations are many, and cyber flirting has become the greatest source of entertainment in lives bombarded with commitments and information.
So, we have a fact: the 2.0 relationships we have today are a reality, and there's not much we can do to go back to the beta version.
What is needed now is to adapt old feelings and instincts to the new reality. It's more or less like when we exchange the cave for a house or the carriage for a car. No one will stop having relationships or procreating. The important thing is to face the tsunami, get through the testing and transition phase, and create mechanisms and mindsets to deal with this new scenario. And let there be rationality, self-control, and...
therapy!