There’s a joke on the Internet that goes something like, “Young people these days are so immersed in digital culture that they believe that liking someone’s social media posts is a form of flirting.” Some take it further and say that it’s actually the only form of flirting that these youngsters know. While the statement is often said in jest, we all know that jokes usually come from a place of truth.
The post-millennial generation – today’s teenagers – are digital natives. They don’t know a world without the Internet and the convenience it offers. Because of that, their social dynamics are heavily reliant on modern technology. They never had to wait by the landline telephone for a call or physically write a single letter, put it in an envelope, lick a stamp and wait for the mailman. Chances are they’ve never even seen a stamp in real life.
One of the latest studies by Pew Research Center investigates how this affects the way they communicate, especially for the purpose of cultivating romantic relationships. Here are some of the findings:
