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Andy Huston, @hust0058, 4sqIndy
The interwebs become a third party in relationships. I checked in off the grid (on Foursquare) on a recent date with my wife, but she had checked in saying it was date night. Shortly thereafter, I got a text from a friend of ours saying that he knew what I was up to even though I was off the grid. At least I am married and don’t have to deal with the awfully public breakup that is the changing of a Facebook relationship status.
Chris Theisen, @cjtheisen, director of digital communications for Hare Chevy
It lets husbands get sappy on special occasions and get more credit than they ever did before Al Gore.
Chris Banks, @CBanksIndy, founder of 4sqIndy
While communities such as Match.com and eHarmony provide a controlled online environment targeted toward those seeking romantic relationships, Twitter and Facebook provide a platform for platonic relationships that may or may not develop into something more. I could argue that knowing what my friends are up to all the time makes it incredibly easy to make plans on a Friday night. ... (and) being able to casually flirt on Twitter certainly hasn’t hurt my chances of getting a date. On the other hand, social networking vehicles such as Foursquare may also be the driving force behind paranoia in romantic relationships. I know several people whose relationships have suffered because of late-night check-ins to strip clubs, or even someone else’s bed. Technology is a beautiful and dangerous thing. Maybe it’s true: ignorance is bliss.
Jon Bausman, @JonBausman, director of media and brand development at Ricker Oil
I read an article where a researcher statistically demonstrated a correlation between the rise in divorce and the evolution of Facebook. Married couples can now find their former flames and high school sweethearts, which only opens the door to a dangerous road with a disastrous ending. Breaking up is no longer the worse part: It’s having to explain and retell how and why to your 2,000 friends and their 60 comments on your relationship status update. Solution: Don’t put it up there in the first place!
