Does LOVE Exist in the Digital Age? – Cloud 10 Creative Communications

Love seems to be becoming more allusive than ever with the average relationship now only lasting a little over two years.

Why are relationships so hard today? Why have people suddenly become so inept at making relationships last?

Have we forgotten how to love? Or even worse, have we forgotten what love is?

Experts have expressed various opinions about why this is an increasing phenomenon with a vast majority citing that social media is to blame.

As we spend increasingly more time glued to our smartphones, laptops, and tablets, the big question looms: Is technology bringing us closer together or driving us apart?

We’ve put together some interesting statistics reflecting both pros and cons of looking for love in the digital age.

1. Unsurprisingly, in a recent study that found the length of the average relationship as being 2 years and 9 months, 79 percent of participants and their ex-partners had been actively using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram before parting ways, with 36 per cent admitting that they had met their ex online either through social media or a dating site.

2. Over half (54 per cent) felt that social media played a part in their relationship breakup, with 34 per cent saying their ex-partner met someone new on social media or was flirting with other people via social media.

3. Social media also led 12 per cent of respondents to perceive how much happier other couples were and made them think that their relationship wasn’t as positive, forgetting that what we see online is the ‘highlight reel’ – not always real life.

4. Relationships that start out online are 28% more likely to break down in the first year as opposed to relationships where the couple first met face-to-face, according to research conducted at Michigan State University. And it gets worse. Couples who met online are nearly 3 times as likely to get divorced as couples that met face-to-face.

5. Singles want to present themselves in the best light to the extent that 53% of people lie on their dating profile. Phactual.com found that men lie about their age, their height, their income and their jobs in an effort to sound more successful. Women online lie about their weight, physical build, and their age, with 20% of women surveyed by global research agency Opinion Matters admitting to using an older profile photo from when they were younger and thinner…

6. Which leads us to this fact…. A survey of more than 47,000 people shows that 30% of Tinder users are married. An additional 12% are in a relationship, while 54% are actually single.

7. Is it any wonder that people lie on their dating profiles? One in five online daters do not even write their own. 22% of online dater ask friends to help them build their profile – 30% of female users have asked a friend for help, whereas only 16% of male users have asked friends to help create their profile.

8. However, it isn’t all doom and gloom for online dating. Around 5% of Americans that are currently in either a committed relationship or marriage suggest that they met their significant other online.

9. In addition, it seems that if you want to meet someone to start a relationship with, don’t go to a bar. Surveys show that only 2% of men and 9% of women have ever formed a relationship with someone they met at a bar. (A side note ladies: If he hasn’t called you within 24 hours after a date then there’s only a 12% chance he ever will).

10. By the way, did you know that…including the word ‘flowers’ in your dating profile increases inbound messages by 52%? Including ‘old-fashioned’ boosts inbound messages by 16% and ‘hopeless romantic’ expands inbound messages by 38%.

11. Show me the money! eHarmony mentions that a study found that men who reported incomes higher than $250,000 received 156% more email than those with $50,000. That equates to 156% more gold diggers, so maybe think twice before you post that kind of personal info.

12. If you want to put your best face forward, a study by Badoo about profile photos found that: –

Women love profile pictures that are set in the countryside, feature a dog, or show off a man’s tattoos
Men like countryside photos, pictures taken in the gym, and women wearing their underwear or a bikini
Women do not like shirtless photos
Men do not like Snapchat filters
No one likes group photos, nor does anyone want to see their prospective match in a photo with an attractive person who might be competition.

13. Looking for hook ups? Online dating has allowed people to be upfront about their desires and has given them a way to connect with those who are like-minded. Based on their research, Statistic Brain found one in three women have sex on the first offline encounter with a match. But just be aware that out of these women an alarming 4 out of 5 did not use protection.

14. 48% of relationships that began online will end via email. If you meet someone online, be prepared as the chances are you’ll break up online. While some might see this as rude, those who are socially awkward or fear confrontation will find it convenient, avoiding any potentially messy, dramatic and public breakup scenes.

15. Is it e-cheating? 64% of men believe it is totally acceptable to flirt with other women online while in a committed relationship. Only 36% of women feel the same way. In addition, 37% of men don’t think that using dating apps is necessarily cheating.

And so, we are more connected than ever – but are we lonelier?

Research conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International on a sample of 2,252 people last year indicates that 25% felt their partner was distracted by their phone when they were together and 8% had argued as a result.

The figures were worse for younger people: 42% of 18-to-29-year-olds said their partners had been distracted by their phones and 18% had argued over the amount of time the other was spending online.

It would seem that technology has allowed us to become more connected to each other than ever before but what exactly does it mean for romantic relationships? Are we giving our partners the time and attention they need?

Findings seem to suggest that modern relationships have a shorter shelf life as a result of our hectic and technology dominated social lives.

Experts suggest taking time out from social media can significantly improve a relationship.

Connect with us at SEXPO

In the meantime, if you’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places, or if your love life can do with a boost, come and find us this weekend at SEXPO 2018 at the International Convention Centre, Darling Harbour in Sydney from June 14-17.

We will be showcasing our LOVE drink, which contains a unique blend of herbs and vitamins, known to stimulate desire and enhance sexual function.

Consumers are increasingly looking to nature first when seeking health solutions and this trend includes food, beverages and supplements made with ingredients aimed at improving libido and serving as natural aphrodisiacs.

LOVE packs herbs, vitamins and minerals into a can all known to enhance sexual drive, stimulate loving and intimate desires including Horny Goat Weed, Tribulus Terrestris, Damiana, Gingko Biloba, and Siberian Ginseng.

Come and find LOVE at SEXPO 2018!