The dating game 2012

A phone for every date

We’ve already seen several somewhat predictable additions to the dating tools at our disposal; online dating sites, ‘googling’ potential partners to dig up any dirt, ‘sexting’ and sending saucy photos all increased drastically in recent years.

Further additions of technology to our dating habits include the like of social networking sites. We rarely have to deal with that awkward “could-I-maybe-perhaps-if-it’s-not-too-much-bother-get-your-phone-number-and-maybe-call-you” moment at the end of the night. All you need is their full name, or even better a friend in common, and you can be Facebook friends within seconds. Of course, the age old debate of how long to leave before calling (and more recently, texting) lends itself nicely to the issue of how long to leave it before adding someone on Facebook. The fact that many people now use Facebook on their mobiles doesn’t help, and it’s a technological possibility that has not yet been around long enough for any sort of etiquette to be established (a fact supported by my spellchecker not recognising the word ‘Facebook’ as I type this); I’ve had one friend who slated a guy for being over keen for already adding her by the time she got home in a taxi (alone) from a night out. Another friend was practically throwing herself down the stairs in despair when a guy hadn’t added her by 10am the following day (fortunately for us, the crucial moment came at about 3pm, and all was right with the world).

Facebook is not alone. The way Twitter’s taking over, it won’t be long until we’re getting together (and breaking up) in 140 characters...who said romance was dead? The phrase “twirt” (Twitter flirt) has already been thrown around, surprisingly more so than “Twape” (has anyone said that yet? Someone must have)

But perhaps more scary than these well known dating tools are the less well publicised features that people are starting to use when dating. Female only social networking site luluvise.com has its own WikiDate section, where women can discuss (by name, and in detail) the men they have previously dated, and rate them on features such as whether they are good-looking, funny and good in bed, perhaps deterring future love interests for the dude in question. Some would argue that this is a step too far; whatever happened to the spontaneity and excitement of getting to know someone on a first date, let alone the privacy issues of naming and (potentially) shaming someone online? Others argue that it is merely the 21st century derivative of women nattering over the hedge about the date that so-and-so down the road went on last week.

Smartphone app developers have also been looking to cash in on our attempts at finding true love. Online dating sites have developed apps to tell you when another member is on your radar, and horsoscope or ‘true love’ apps are taking money from those naive enough to believe that your romantic future can be foretold by one text message. You can even download a version of the Kama Sutra. Beats having to explain its physical existence when the ‘rents spontaneously drop by.

It is clear that the way we date is changing, opinion as to whether this is a change for the better is yet to be seen. Personally, I am a believer in good old fashioned romance, and hope that it is here to stay. A real bunch of flowers will never beat a virtual one (although rest assured, there is probably somebody somewhere beavering away on a virtual florist type app as you read this).

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