Digital Love In Australia

There's no denying that love looks a little different these days than it used to. Once upon a time, we wrote love notes and sonnets...now we proclaim our love in 140 characters or less.

Technology has changed our lives in every way imaginable, including the ways we meet, date, fall in love, fall out of love, and find our soulmates. The Australian branch of eHarmony recently took a look at how technology has changed the face of dating for 2,000 Australian singles, finding that everyone, regardless of age, has been affected by the new age of digital love.

60% of the Gen Z crowd, ages 18-24, say the text message is their primary form of contact after a first date. That probably surprises no one, but this might: the same number of people in the 55-64 age bracket say that technology is essential to their love lives (in this case, using Google to plan a perfect date).

"Five years ago my parents would have laughed if I had told them they could find a compatible partner via a computer or phone. The old-fashioned phone call is great, but love is now definitely online and mobile," said Jason Chuck, Managing Director of eHarmony Australia.

Here are a few of the ways digital love is taking over:

• 1 in 10 Australians say they have used an SMS to say "I love you" for the first time.
• Unfortunately, the same number of people have also been dumped by SMS. 1 in 7 aged between 18 and 24 think SMS and social media are perfectly acceptable ways to break up with someone.

Guess it's better than Carrie Bradshaw's infamous Post-It note breakup...

• 1 in 5 Australians have sent or received sexy photos, 1 in 10 of whom is over the age of 45.
• Another 1 in 10 think Facebook is the perfect way to announce a new relationship. Most, however, still prefer to let friends and family know about a new love over the phone.
• Nearly 1 in 10 Australians has found love online. The most successful love seekers - 1 in 6 - are between the ages of 35 and 44.
• Young people have fully jumped aboard the online dating train: 1 in 4 know at least one person who has tried it.

And just in case you're ready to write off technology as a young person's game, consider this: 1 in 20 respondents over the age of 65 say they have used email to say "I love you" for the first time.

To find a list of dating sites for Australians and information on them you should check out our Australia dating category.