Once upon a time, romance meant handwritten letters, sneaking out to meet under mango trees, and maybe a mixtape if you were lucky. As beautiful as it sound lets fast forward to now where love starts with a “hey” in the DMs, continues to a whatsapp voice note, and if you are lucky enough it gets to tiktok streaks.
This eventually leads to the many situationships we have coz very few actually end as firm relationships.
And then there’s the “talking stage.” Our parents courted, our elder siblings dated, but we? We talk. For weeks, sometimes months, we just hover in this limbo of late night chats, memes, and vibes, but no clear definition.The moment one person asks, “So what are we?” the other vanishes like a Snapchat message.
The paradox is that young people today have never had more access to potential partners, yet have never been lonelier. Apps like Tinder, Bumble, and even Instagram DMs create the illusion of endless options. Why settle when another “better” match might be one swipe away? At this point commitment starts to feel like the fear of missing out on someone else more exciting.
Ghosting has become the heartbreak of this generation. One day, you’re planning weekend plans, the next, you’re talking to yourself in the chat. No explanations, no closure, just silence that hits harder than a breakup text. Some people say ghosting is “self-care,” but really, it’s just cowardice wrapped in Wi-Fi.
Even when relationships form, social media turns them into performance art. Couples no longer just love each other, they curate their love for the public. Matching outfits, TikTok challenges, couple goals captions until the day the photos quietly disappear and detectives in the comments section confirm the breakup.
But it’s not all doom and Wi-Fi. The digital era has also given us connections that would’ve been impossible before. Long distance relationships are easier to maintain, communities of like minded people form online, and sometimes, a DM really does turn into a marriage. The tools aren’t the enemy; it’s how we use them that matters.
Maybe the real lesson is this: technology can connect hearts, but it can’t replace the hard work of love. Apps will match you, filters will flatter you, and memes will make you laugh, but trust, communication, and vulnerability still need old-fashioned effort. The digital era has changed the stage, but the play, love, heartbreak, and hope remains the same.
