Online Dating the End of Commitment? Hardly.

If you've read any of the major publications recently (The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic), you might think that dating is an antiquated activity - something you just don't do in 2013. Men are now texting women late at night to "hang out" or "tag along with their buddies" to some activity or another. There's no dinner, no one-on-one face time at a normal hour. There's no such thing as a "date" anymore, in the traditional sense. And single people just have to accept that this is how it is.

The reason cited? A couple of things - one, our bad habit of texting when it comes to asking people out - it takes far less courage than talking face to face or calling someone on the phone for a date. Texting is a low commitment, low rejection way to operate. Also, the sheer amount of people online dating has thrown a wrench into the dating process, contributing to the decline of courting, according to these articles. It's made the possibility of finding someone better a constant, so why try so hard to impress just one person? When there are a seemingly infinite number of single men and women signing up for online dating all the time, it's hard to commit.

I take issue with these broad statements. After all, behavior isn't driven by technology. If you tend to be shy or avoid rejection, then it's going to be easier to text and be casual about asking someone out, especially if you're in your twenties as opposed to your forties. When you're younger, chances are you're not thinking about marriage and commitment. That hasn't changed because of technology. It's just made hooking up a little easier.

Online dating has broken down barriers so that people who don't run in the same social circles can meet each other. Yes, there is a lot more choice now when it comes to dating. You can meet far more people than you could even ten or fifteen years ago. Some single people might think to themselves that someone better is always just a profile away. But is that a realistic view? If you've online dated for any length of time, you'd know it isn't. Dating so many people can also make you weary.

I believe many men and women who are online dating are looking for a relationship, a partner, especially if they're above the age of 30. I also believe that more choice doesn't mean that more people would rather do online dating indefinitely than find someone special. I think your behavior is driven by your motivations. If you want to hook up, then you will - and if you want to find a real relationship, then you will. Online dating won't change behavior. It's just technology.