Readings
"How do youths growing up with the Internet form and conduct relationships these days?"
This reading explains how teenagers are using social networks and other sources of information to research those they are interested in through their online profiles. It appears they most likely met the other person offline at school or through friends, but being unsure of the other's interests and feelings they find viewing the Internet a safe place to learn more because it removes the awkwardness of face-to-face discussion. I can personally vouche for this form of initial contact as a means of creating basis for extending a relationship. Knowing someone's interests, friends and curcumstances allows me to quickly 'strike common ground' in a conversation.
'Flirting' through profile comments is another way teenagers are using social networks to build contact with someone they are interested in, as comments can be carefully worded to sound simply friendly. This provides a way to gauge the other's reactions without much risk of embarrassment. It still appears that 'asking someone out' is most appropriate in person, though initializing contact online is acceptable. For important, closly personal discussions where it is vital to express your emotions exactly, I believe face-to-face contact is always the best option as 'matters of the heart' can be misinterprated via text, and the other person can more easily mislead you. It is harder to hide emotion in body language and voice tone than in simple words.
In the context of a relationship, some if not the majority of conversation is conducted through technologies such as instant messaging, phone calls and email. Some of these forms of contact allow for constant communication, but I can see it complicating matters through a lack of private time away, especially when trust is an issue. Furthermore, it may be excepted that the other will acknowledge the relationship on their social network profiles which may catch the attention of parents who they may not want knowing. When a relationship ends badly it is considered insensitive to 'break up' over a text message or online with an email or instant message, however they quickly remove or replace all reminders of the past relationship from their profile, with exceptions for 'hate' messages which they except the other to see directly or through friends. Personally, I would show the other respect by informing them in person.
Technology has certainly contributed to and change how those growing up the Internet and cell phones initiate and maintain romantic relationships, however I feel some areas are still best left offline. I prefer to socialize in person in most cases, especially when related to romance, but there is something 'magical' about the openness that the web provides through layers of anonymity.
