In today’s digital age, it is commonplace to research and analyse anyone and everyone that we meet—whether through their Facebook profile, Instagram or corporate biography. Through these technologies, we make assumptions about how successful or organised someone is, or how attractive they are.

We are fast losing the art of real human interaction, and this limits our chances of success in meeting the right person.

With the meteoric rise of social media over the past 15 years, we now live in a society which more and more expects instant gratification. How often have you been irritated when someone hasn’t replied to an email within five minutes; or you can see that they have read your Whatsapp message but haven’t responded yet? Let alone what happens if you are in a coffee shop without Wi-Fi!

This has nurtured a global frustration towards response times and the need to access information instantly, and I can now see that having an impact on dating across the world. So, if he or she hasn’t responded to a message within 30 seconds, don’t fall into the trap of thinking they are not interested; pause a little before deciding to cast them aside.

Divorce rates are at their highest, marriage rates are at their lowest and people in their 20s and 30s are marrying far later in life. One explanation could be that internet dating has created a “sweetie shop” effect, with thousands and thousands of supposedly single people available to us all at the mere touch of a button. Gone are the days when you would “fall” in love with someone, slowly getting to know someone to build the bedrock of trust and friendship that should sit behind the initial attraction.

We are now impatient, and if that first date isn’t 100 per cent right, we quickly move on to the next because we can and because it’s easy. Clearly, you should never compromise on who you spend your life with, but I do believe we should slow down and focus on getting to know someone, rather than expecting instant perfection.

Technology is not a substitute for good old human interaction. Singletons often fall into the trap of sending endless Whatsapp messages to each other before even meeting for the first time, and it is commonplace now to judge someone on the strength of their humour or style within these messages.

Just meet! Use technology to organise to meet face to face as quickly as possible and let natural communication unfold from there.

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