Is mobile technology bringing people together or driving them apart?
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There is no doubt that technology strongly influences the way we live our lives and finding love is no exception. Ten years ago, if you said
you met your other half online, you may have raised a few eyebrows. Today, online dating is not only socially
acceptable but a multi-million pound industry with companies such as eHarmony
and match.com competing for the best relationship and marriage statistics. The
internet, followed by the explosion in mobile technology, has made it easier to
meet people than ever before. And that
is not the only area of our lives that has benefited from the mobile
revolution. You can now go shopping from
your mobile to find the perfect first date outfit or search to find the most
romantic restaurants and how to get there.
When it comes to finding love we now have access to all the information
we could possibly need simply by reaching inside our pockets.
What about the end of a
relationship? Can technology help to make a break up that much easier? Should it?
The government has recently launched an app called “Sorting out Separation” to help people who are facing a divorce or the breakdown in a
relationship. This may seem long overdue in the age of having an app for
everything but it has come under criticism from those who are concerned that
making divorce too easy could devalue marriage.
The app itself offers some
basic advice on how to avoid conflict and provides a database of useful
resources which the separating person might find useful with an emphasis on
protecting children. It covers
everything from counseling to child maintenance and everything in
between. Many of the topics covered
would often be raised in a first meeting with a solicitor. Previous generations in a similar situation
would have picked up the phone having no option but to consult a solicitor for
clear guidance. The next generation will
have grown up in a world of WiFi, smart phones and super fast internet speeds
with a universe of apps putting vast amounts of information
at their fingertips. Combine this with
the upcoming cuts in legal aid and it is difficult to imagine that this app
will not be well used by those trying to navigate the many legal and emotional
issues they are suddenly faced with when a relationship ends.
But does making the process
of divorce easier devalue the institution of marriage? The app is not providing anything
dramatically new, just presenting information that is already on the
internet it in a new accessible format. What
do you think?
Vote in the poll!
Vote in the poll!
