For our generation, technology is a big part of our everyday lives. From technical aspects like homework and workforce to entertainment like social media and movie subscriptions, technology is involved in all realms of modern-day life and has been for a while. As we increasingly use technology to explore various areas of the digital world, people have relied on it to communicate with others romantically. This raises the question: should texting play a large role in relationships?
Relationships are far more complex than what meets the eye. As time progresses, it makes it harder for a relationship to stay in contact 24/7. That is where texting comes into play, acting as a third party for that missing contact that many relationships seem to need to for a greater connection. This occurs during many stages of any type of relationship, especially those that involve a much more complex situation and require attention that cannot be met by just face-to-face contact.
“Long-distance relationships”- or relationships separated by a significant geographic distance- are a perfect example of this. Texting provides a tool to show love and give that well-needed connection anytime and anywhere. Approximately 14-15.5 million Americans are currently in long-distance relationships, with couples on average texting 343 times per week, The New York Post reported. And while many may prefer the attention of a relationship to be given in person, that doesn’t mean that something as valuable as time will always be available to have those moments in person.
Texting offers a connection, and while that connection may seem minimal and incapable of offering true intimacy, that is far from the truth. Nothing beats the power of wordplay and personality when it comes to day-to-day conversations, and with texting, you still get both without needing face-to-face conversations to survive. A text message doesn’t have to include complex essay paragraphs and an overuse of emojis to explain one’s emotions; it can be as simple as ‘I love you’ or ‘thinking of you’ to keep your partner emotionally engaged.
While texting lacks heavily on the physical connection that many want with a partner, communication without physical presence isn’t anything new. In history, we have seen texting come from many forms. Love letters and poems date back to the Mesopotamian era. This would later become a powerful expression of affection and romance, showing that building a connection goes beyond face-to-face interactions.
Texting is a technological privilege in the current times and offers much more than just a means to talk. It offers connection, contact, and attention that many strive for in their relationships. It is a tool to continue relationships that doesn’t need to wait for a gap in each other’s schedules for a way to talk face-to-face, and instead gives a connection anytime, anywhere, with just a click of a button. Texting offers so much, and it is becoming the main means of communication in today’s society. You could even say texting is winning the love game.
