How Technology Has Changed Dating in America

Introduction

Dating in the United States has always been a ritual through which young adults discover themselves, explore their sexuality, and evaluate potential long-term partners. Over the past 50 years, however, the way young people date has changed considerably due to advances in technology. From the automobile culture of the postwar era to the rise of the internet, each successive wave of technology has reshaped dating patterns among young adults — generally defined here as individuals between the ages of 13 and 30, depending on the social norms of a given decade. Yet one thing remains constant: dating serves as a vital developmental ritual that prepares young people for the relationships of adulthood. No matter how much the external forms of dating change, that core function continues.

The Automobile and the Transformation of Teen Dating

It is not surprising that dating in the United States has changed over the last 50 years; what may be more surprising is that it has not changed even more. With the enormous technological advances America has witnessed, one might expect dating to have evolved even further than it has. Nevertheless, technology has left a lasting mark on how young Americans date, and as technology continues to advance, dating will certainly continue to evolve.

In the 1950s, dating was a social ritual highly controlled by the parents of the two young people involved. Dates often consisted of sitting on the couch watching television or listening to the radio with parents present in the room. As one author notes, "The venues available for such pairing off were relatively limited compared to present times, and for middle-class couples, at least, the dominant practice was for the male to visit the female in her home" (Whyte 17). However, the postwar baby-boom era was also a time of great affluence in the U.S., and more and more teenagers were driving their own cars — a development that began to shift dating patterns significantly.

With the advent of teen car ownership, dating moved from a closely supervised environment to a far less controlled one. The automobile gave young people autonomy and transformed the dating landscape. Teens with cars helped create the drive-in movie and drive-in restaurant craze; they "cruised" as both a dating and youth ritual, pulling into diners that catered to them with carhops and window-side service. The drive-in movie theater grew up around the same time and became an extremely popular date destination. Safe within the cocoon of their cars, teens could be affectionate with little fear of parental interference. Technology had thus helped create a more private environment for dating, and by the 1950s and 1960s it had become socially acceptable for teens to date in these settings.

Films, Television, and the Shaping of Dating Culture

Films and television have also had a major effect on dating, and they continue that influence today. Movie theaters have always been a favorite date destination for young people. Drive-in theaters changed the date from a public outing to a private one, but films themselves remained the primary draw. Films allow young adults to live out fantasies while enjoying the company of a partner, and popular stars serve as role models whose romanticized lives young viewers may seek to emulate. As films become increasingly realistic, it becomes easier for young audiences to believe that the romantic scenarios on screen might parallel their own lives.

Dating patterns have been altered by the prevalence of films and theaters, and moviegoing remains one of the most popular weekend date activities. The advent of cable television and pay-per-view has made films even more readily available to young adults — including films not intended for younger viewers. In this way, mass media can insinuate itself into the lives of young people in multiple ways, shaping their attitudes toward dating and sexuality long before they have extensive personal experience with either.

Conclusion

It is clear that dating patterns have changed dramatically in the last 50 years in America, and that they will continue to change along with enhanced technology. Advances in technology have altered the way young people date and have reshaped how young people understand and experience sex and violence. Young people are having sex earlier, dating more partners, and developing a sense of individual identity at a younger age than in previous generations. Dating has always been a way for young people to learn more about themselves as they prepare for adulthood, and it continues to serve a vital purpose in the lives of young Americans. Where it is headed in the future can only be imagined, but it is certain that continued technological innovation will keep reshaping the dating patterns of generations to come.

Works Cited

Foston, Nikitta A. "I Met My Husband Online!" Ebony, Apr. 2003, p. 78+.

Pirog-Good, Maureen A., and Jan E. Stets, eds. Violence in Dating Relationships: Emerging Social Issues. Praeger, 1989.

Whyte, Martin King. Dating, Mating, and Marriage. Aldine De Gruyter, 1990.