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Technology has heightened our online interactions while also over-filling our hunger for information about someone we like.
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First impressions are a huge deal in the world of dating and, let's be honest, we are judgmental whether we admit it or not.
And never are we more so than with social-networking websites such as Facebook, where the credentials that factor into compatibility are only a few simple clicks away.
Facebook -- which has 17 million Canadian profiles according to comScore.Inc -- allows us to create, customize, trim, elaborate and edit our online personalities to just how we want other people to see us.
Technology has heightened our online interactions while also over-filling our hunger for information about someone we like.
In a recent New York Times article, the author humorously confessed to googling the name of man she'd met, then feeling awkward during their second date.
Once upon a time, the waiting period between the first date and the phone call involved lots of excitement. Nowadays, that mystery vanishes.
I confess that sometimes after a few beverages, my girlfriends and I find ourselves slouched in front of our laptops, showing off a particular boy interest's pics.
While it can be a fun way to wrap up a Friday night, this online stalking can have strange aftermath. The next time you see this boy, your perception may be different now that you've learned what his ex-girlfriend looks like.
Debrett's released a guide on Facebook etiquette this year, detailing the dos and don'ts of online behaviour. This prompts further inquiry: What are the rules when it comes to online flirting? Is poking or browsing too forward?
But one thing is clear: As long as our identities are exposed to potential mates through online sites such as Facebook, dating will never be the same.
5 RULES OF TEXT FLIRTING
1. Double check before you hit 'send.' You wouldn't want your message falling into the hands of your mother, especially if it's steamy.
2. Don't drink and text. If you find yourself fumbling with your phone after too many mojitos, you may regret what you send.
3. Keep your message simple. Texting doesn't replace talking, so don't pour your heart out with letters.
4. Know the balance between instant-replying and waiting two days to reply. You don't want to seem eager, but you don't want them to think you don't care either.
5. Make the call already. Texting is fun but it's a good idea to finally call the person and make plans.
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TEXTING, SEXTING AND MANNERS
What did we do before text messaging? We live in a technology-obsessed generation where calling and even face-to-face talking has become a rarity, replaced by flirting through a few fast finger flicks on cell phone key pads.
"It's the instant reply that is thrilling, but it can also take anywhere up to a couple days before you get a response, which gets you wondering why they're taking so long," said Caitlin, a 25-year-old university student.
Texting represents different ways of interacting to different people. For some, it's merely a way to simply say you're running late, or a quick hello; for others, it can set the basis for a playful relationship.
But while texting may seem harmless for most of us, it has led some teens into trouble with the law in the U.S. Known as 'sexting,' teens are sending revealing photos of themselves to boyfriends and girlfriends, not realizing that this can have dramatic consequences. According to an article, a 17-year-old boy in Wisconsin was charged with child pornography, sexual exploitation of a child and defamation for allegedly posting nude photos of his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend on his MySpace page. The girl took the pictures with her cell phone and e-mailed them to her boyfriend, authorities said.
