In the 1980s a romantic relationship began with spending hours on the telephone and the sentimental gesture of making each other mixtapes. Facebook statuses and Snapchat streaks simply didn’t exist and people just enjoyed each other’s company.

However, in recent years, relationships have become more like talking to a screen than the actual person. Through texting and direct messaging, people feel it is easier to type their true feelings instead of saying it.

Social media has completely altered the modern-day relationship. As of the last few years, having a Snapchat streak with someone has meant more than actually talking to them in person.

Couples comment “heart eye” emojis under each other’s pictures instead of actually complimenting them in person.

Direct messages are used so that a stranger or someone who is unfamiliar can “talk” to another, but whatever happened to just going up to someone and talking to them instead of stalking them for weeks on end before messaging them.

Also, some couples need to make it known that they are in a relationship. Instagram and Twitter are filled with “appreciation posts” about a person’s love for their significant other.

The old thing to do was to actually tell a person one’s feelings

to their face and not make a big deal about it to the whole world.

Social media has been materializing relationships as well. It has become common to see a tweet or an Instagram post about expensive presents a boyfriend has bought his girlfriend.

This creates the idea that if a boyfriend or girlfriend doesn’t do this then they don’t care for their significant other.

In previous decades, a boy taking a girl out to dinner or buying her a bouquet of flowers was just enough to show that he cares for her.

Though there can be relationships that are built over the Internet, people don’t need to post about it 24/7 to make it real.