Dating can be a weird, uncomfortable experience for many teens; but according to a new study by the Pew Research Center, social media might be making it easier.
According to Pew’s survey, half of all teens have expressed interest in someone by friending them on Facebook, and 47 percent by liking one of their posts. This, Pew says, is an example of entry-level dating—the first step many teens make when they’ve never dated before. The survey also found that seven in 10 teens felt closer to their significant other because of some sort of digital exchange, either via social media or text, and nearly half said they’d resolved an argument using digital media.
All that digital interaction isn’t all good, according to Pew. A full 43 percent of respondents said “their significant other was distracted by their cell phone when they were together.” (The Atlantic)