Romantic Relationships in the Digital Age: Exploring Technology's Impact on Relationship Initiation, Maintenance, and Dissolution

Abstract

Today, millions of people are starting, maintaining, and ending relationships through communication technologies. People are finding love in their inboxes, and experiencing heartbreak through relationship statuses on Facebook. This thesis explores the changing state of romantic relationships through the use of new communication technologies, such as instant messaging and social networking sites. More importantly, it seeks to assess how these modes of communication are affecting our relationships with others. By taking a functional approach and using traditional communication theories, this work delves into technology’s impact on relationship initiation, maintenance, and dissolution. Society has allowed technology to be pervasive and powerful in romantic relationships. However, it is too soon to tell whether society is writing a utopian or a dystopian romance novel. This thesis offers story elements to consider.