Why have social media become a popular way to meet people?

Convenience and Speed
Using a smartphone, you can meet people anywhere in the world without leaving your home. This saves time and gives you a wider choice of potential partners.

The Ability to Research a Person in Advance
Photos, posts, and interests - all of this allows you to form a first impression before meeting in person.

Sense of Control
Online dating gives you more control: you can choose who to communicate with, filter people by interests and expectations, without the risk of immediately getting into an awkward situation.

Social Norm
With the advent of popular apps and platforms, meeting people online has become "normal," especially in big cities where the pace of life leaves little time for real-life encounters.

What was it like before?

Before social media and online dating:

Meetings occurred primarily through friends, work, school, clubs, cafes, concerts, and other public places.

Meetings were often more "natural": communication took place in person, without the opportunity for lengthy correspondence or pre-screening.

On the other hand, the choice of potential partners was limited to local areas - within a city or social circle.

Myth or Reality: "Women now only meet through social media"?

This isn't entirely true. Social media has indeed become an important tool, but it hasn't replaced face-to-face communication. Many women combine both approaches: meeting online and then meeting in real life. There are also those who prefer in-person dating, considering the online format superficial or unreliable.

Pros and Cons of Online Dating

Pros:

Wide selection of potential partners

Opportunity to learn about a person in advance

Convenience and time - saving

Cons:

Superficiality: often judged by photos or short messages

Risk of fraud or fake accounts

Dating can be a "long-term correspondence," while real-life meetings are postponed.

Conclusion

Yes, social media has changed the rules of the game and has become a popular way to meet people, especially for busy women. But this doesn't mean that all dating is now virtual - live communication and in-person meetings remain an important part of life. Social media merely complements traditional dating methods, making them faster and more accessible.