Just fifteen years ago, meeting someone online was considered strange. Today, it’s part of our everyday lives. About a third of all modern couples meet online. Some people find their soul mate on dating apps, while others fall in love after lengthy correspondence on social media. Technology has become part of the romantic scenario, and the very concept of romance has been transformed. The digital age has created new rituals of intimacy that are familiar and understandable to absolutely everyone who has fallen in love on the internet.
Romance that has “moved” to smartphones
Likes have long become something more than just a click. Moreover, they work both at the stage of getting acquainted and in long-term relationships. When a person likes a photo from three years ago, everyone understands perfectly well that this is not a coincidence. Obviously, they are trying to show their interest without seeming too pushy. And in established couples, a like is a mini gesture of attention and a way to express support, approval, and admiration. Sometimes it can even be a “language of reconciliation”. After a quarrel, when it is difficult to be the first to write, a like can sound like a timid “let’s talk”.
Emojis have also become a new language of love. Each couple gradually develops its own set of “code signals” that only they understand. For example, one small blue heart can mean “I miss you”, and a star can mean “I’m proud of you”. Sometimes these symbols become so meaningful that the absence of a familiar emoji causes concern. If a partner always sent a certain emoji, but suddenly didn’t do so today, it is perceived as a signal that something has gone wrong.
In addition, each couple develops its own digital habits and rituals. Some send each other memes instead of love letters. Others record a voice message every morning to wish each other a good day. And still others share photos from their daily lives: a cup of coffee, a funny cat, a beautiful sunset from the office window. These are all little things, but they create a sense of closeness, even when people are hundreds of kilometers apart.
Online dates have become the new norm, helping to maintain an emotional connection at a distance. Some people cook dinner via video chat and then eat together, discussing how their day went. Others walk around the city with a camera and show their favorite places or give a “tour” of their home. Others watch the same movie at the same time, commenting on what is happening in voice messages. All these rituals used to seem like something out of science fiction. Today, they are a reality for thousands of people around the world.
Why chat roulette has become popular again
It would seem that today there are many ways to find your soul mate. But modern users are tired of swiping and chatting, and are looking for a way to communicate “for real” on the internet. That’s why chatroulette is experiencing a real revival.
It peaked in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic. When people found themselves in self-isolation, they desperately missed live communication. Social networks and dating apps couldn’t give them the feeling of another person’s presence. That’s why many people remembered videochats. And even though the quarantine is long over, platforms like Lucky Crush live and CooMeet continue to be popular.
And this is not surprising, because this format has many advantages:
- Maximum naturalness. On dating services and social networks, users often create an “ideal image”. Carefully retouched photos, carefully crafted phrases, and routine compliments all create the feeling that we are communicating with a bot rather than a real person. Online chats are different. There are no filters or masks here; you communicate with each other in real time and can see your conversation partner as they are in real life.
- Minimum expectations. In chat roulette, you don’t build up illusions, as is often the case with long correspondence. You can chat for a few minutes and immediately understand whether you feel comfortable with this person and whether it is worth continuing the conversation. This saves time and helps avoid disappointment.
- A chance to meet someone special. Today, when algorithms decide who we meet and communicate with, chance encounters have become a rarity. And in video chats, you can never predict who will be on the other side of the screen. The system connects two strangers at random, and each new connection is a complete surprise. But, of course, if you don’t like the user, you can always click the “Next” button and start chatting with someone else.
But most importantly, chatting in random chats is much closer to real interaction than texting. After all, here you have access to all the non-verbal cues again: you can see your conversation partner smile or frown and hear the intonation of their voice. All of this brings you closer together and helps you feel the same “chemistry” as in real life.
In addition, when communicating in videochats, you can be sure that there is a real person on the other side of the screen, not a fake. For example, on CooMeet, every girl must register and confirm her details. Therefore, you can get acquainted and be sure that your conversation partner is real and that you can build something more with her.
What will the future of digital romance look like?
It is already clear that technology is not just helping people meet, but is changing the very form of interaction with each other. And in the coming years, online dating will also transform. Perhaps, thanks to AR and VR, people will be able to “meet” in shared virtual spaces, walk around digital cities, without even leaving their own homes.
And it is already clear today that interacting with each other will be easier in the future. Services are actively implementing AI technologies that help find common ground and provide tips on how to behave when meeting someone new. Dating itself will become more personalized in the future thanks to the precise work of algorithms. This means that people will have more chances to meet their soulmate.
Romance is changing rapidly along with technology. But the main thing remains the same — we still need warmth, attention, and emotional contact. In the age of digitalization, we have learned to receive and give this in new ways. But romance remains as important a component of human relationships as it was 50 years ago. Read More
