Every pastime was better, says a popular phrase; we like to live melancholic about what once was and today is no longer. It happens especially with how we coexist and relate to each other. With the advent of technology and the digital era, love could not avoid transforming itself.

This Valentine's Day, Soluntech puts on the glasses of love to see objectively and, from a digital perspective, how technology has transformed our relationships. Typically, articles of this type focus on the negative aspects of technology, such as how it leads to social isolation and harm. However, we chose to take a different approach and adopt another perspective. So, let's get started with a question:

How does technology affect relationships?

Anthropologist Helen Fisher says no. She suggests that we've developed new ways and rules to court each other in our tech-driven, interconnected world. Now we send emails, texts, and emojis to express our emotions, but the fundamental principles of love have stayed the same. Our faster connections are leading to slower, more intimate relationships.

To support this thinking, couples therapist and relationship expert Esther Perel thinks that while love stays the same, technology has affected how we form and end relationships.

Communication has become more frequent now that it can be done on the fly in ways that are convenient, light-touch, and don't demand immediate attention that we may only sometimes have.

So, love keeps being the same, but what is certain is that technology has altered how we meet, communicate, and keep in touch. Previously the process was much slower and more challenging, but now millions of apps allow us to interact quickly and fast with others.

Love and relationships have been a fascinating topic for centuries, and in the 21st century, it's no different. Dr. Marie Bergström, a well-known sociologist, has dedicated her career to understanding how couples come together and build affection in our modern era.

Traditionally, the notion of love at first sight, popularized in numerous Hollywood films, has been a staple in our cultural imagination. However, this idea is being challenged with the advent of online dating. The use of dating apps and websites has made it apparent that people are actively looking for love rather than waiting for it to happen by chance.

Love to one swipe (or many)

Gone are the days of romantic letters, replaced by the convenience of Wi-Fi and dating apps that allow us to connect and communicate with others through one device. All of this makes online dating vs traditional dating a constantly talked about topic.

Online dating has emerged as the second most popular way for people to meet each other.

While some individuals view online dating as a more private experience, this shift represents a fundamental change and a critical factor in understanding why people turn to these platforms and the types of relationships that result, as highlighted in Bergström's book, "The New Laws of Love."

For the first time, it is effortless to continuously encounter potential partners beyond one's social circle, which has led to a shift from being stigmatized, considered unusual, and taboo to becoming a commonplace way to meet people.

Technological advancements have expanded our romantic prospects by enabling us to connect with more people than was possible. It has created opportunities for people who would have otherwise never crossed paths, but it's not all positive, as excessive options can lead to challenges, as research suggests.

According to dating and relationship coach Sami Wunder, having too many options can make it harder to choose: "It can lead people to be noncommittal because you always feel like you can have a better option." However, other studies suggest that those who find the ideal partner on the Internet are happier in marriage than those who meet through other means. So maybe an algorithm can help us find the "perfect" relationship. But how do they work?

The perfect match is some lines of code

Singles have been struggling with finding success on dating apps for years, wondering why they suggest matches that are not their type.

At their core, dating apps are simply search tools that use algorithms to make recommendations for matches based on the data they have, which includes your personal information (such as location and age) as well as your preferences and app activity." So, how do the most widely used dating apps operate?

Tinder: 

Tinder's original algorithm was based on the Elo rating system, originally designed to rank chess players. The "Elo Score" would determine how your profile interacted with others and assess your worth based on how potential matches swiped on you.

However, according to the Tinder blog, this method is no longer used. Instead, the more you use Tinder, the more data it collects about you, allowing the algorithm to understand your preferences better.

Tinder's current system adjusts the profiles you see every time your profile is liked or passed on, and any modifications to the order of potential matches are reflected within a day.

Bumble: 

Bumble hasn't specified how its algorithm works, but it has a blog post explaining its Private Detector. An algorithm that detects if a match sent you a nude photo.

Hinge: 

According to Hinge's Director of Relationship Science, Hinge uses the Gale-Shapley algorithm. A Nobel Prize-winning algorithm originally designed to identify the best matches in non-monetary exchanges, such as organ donations, now helps find matches. It has the same premise as Tinder, the more you use the app, the more it understands who you are interested in.

OkCupid: 

Has more robust user profiles. The algorithm calculates a match percentage with other users to see your compatibility. You can fill in more than 4,000 questions.

Grindr: 

It's one of the first apps to use location data to pair people. It only uses AI and Automated Decision-Making to sniff out spam accounts.

Love is pure data

In today's world, technology plays a significant role in finding love. Using data and understanding how the algorithm works, you can considerably increase your chances of finding true love.

Amy Webb, a data enthusiast, discovered this firsthand. Frustrated with her lack of success in online dating, she decided to take matters into her own hands and create a spreadsheet to track her data and optimize her profile. Through her determination and use of technology, she was able to find love and truly embrace the power of technology in relationships.

This shows that with some creativity and effort, technology can be a valuable tool in helping us find our soulmate. So let's embrace the power of technology and see where it takes us on our journey to love.

Love through the lenses of technology

Regarding love and relationships, technology has always been a hot topic in science fiction. From humanoid robots to advanced operating systems and memory editing, there's no shortage of ideas about how tech could change the way we experience romance. But often, these depictions take a pretty dark turn, showing how these advancements could hurt us emotionally.

If we look at love through traditional values, it's easy to see the potential dangers of tech, explained a recent study. For example, a robot that's a dead ringer for our partner in both looks and personality could seriously challenge the idea that each person in a relationship is unique and irreplaceable.

On the flip side, when we think about autonomy, we have to consider whether an artificial lover that can fulfill all our romantic desires would make our relationships stronger or weaker.

As we shift from simply controlling technology to having conversations with it, our relationships with our devices will change big time. Forming real connections with our tech will significantly impact our lives, giving this AI more power and allowing them to shape our behavior even more.

Love in the age of AI

As technology advances, forming close relationships with AI products is becoming a reality. A recent study found that a surprising number of voice technology users have formed an emotional bond with their voice assistant, with over a third even saying they love their assistant so much they wish it was a real person. And get this - over a quarter of users have even reported having sexual fantasies about their voice assistant. Unexpected, right?

These findings show that AI has the potential to not only make our lives easier but to provide emotional support, like a good friend or significant other. However, as AI gets smarter and becomes more like us, we must be careful about approaching the technology and consider any ethical and design challenges that may arise.

As AI continues to evolve and reaches the level of Artificial Intelligence, it will be able to understand and respond to our emotions and even express feelings of its own. This will create a deeper understanding and connection between us and our AI products, just like our relationships with people. 

In short, the potential for AI to improve our lives is huge, but we need to approach it with caution and consider both the practical and ethical aspects of these relationships. Let's see where artificial intelligence emotions takes us!

Conclusion

In conclusion, technology has undoubtedly transformed how we love and form relationships in the 21st century. Technology has created new opportunities and ways for us to connect with others, from sending emails and texts to using dating apps and websites to meet potential partners. Love itself may not have changed, but technology has impacted how we communicate, form relationships, and keep in touch.

This is where dating apps use algorithms to recommend matches based on personal information and preferences. This rise of online dating has shifted how people meet and connect with each other and has gone from being stigmatized and unusual to become a commonplace way to find love. 

The relationship between love and technology is a complex and multifaceted issue. A growing number of people have formed emotional bonds with AI products, such as voice assistants. It can also offer new ways to experience love and relationships. These relationships could become even more profound as AI evolves to reach Artificial General Intelligence. However, practical and ethical challenges must be considered as technology plays a more significant role in our lives.

In short, technology has made it easier for people to broaden their romantic perspectives and find the "perfect" partner. While technology has altered some aspects of relationships, it is up to us to ensure that it does not hinder the fundamental principles of love that have remained unchanged for centuries.

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