Lavalife Reveals the Secret to Successful Modern Relationships: Technology

TORONTO, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In today's busy world, people will do anything to save a minute in the day. They substitute a phone call with an email, swap a face-to-face conversation for a text, even instant-message Mom. In an era where technology is king, it has become the go-to tool for finding a relationship and communicating with mates and loved ones. But techies beware: relying too much on technology can send mixed signals and even sabotage intimacy.

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"In the beginning, everything is great. For those who love technology, there is no better place to find a relationship than online," explains Kim Hughes, Singles and Dating Expert for Lavalife. "And to prove that this is the best place for techies to find love, Lavalife is offering a free subscription for all new U.S. members who sign up now."

According to a recent BBC World poll that surveyed internet users in 19 countries, 1-in-3 are looking for romance online. Once a relationship is formed with a friend or a lover, technology then takes over as the leading method of communication.

"We've reached a point where we can't live without water, food, air and some sort of handheld device," laughs Hughes. "The key is making sure that technology is one method of expression and not the only means of communication."

With this in mind, Lavalife, the expert in building relationships through technology, introduces 10 vows for sustaining your relationship electronically:

Technology "I Dos"

• Use an online dating website like Lavalife.com to find love. It allows you to search for other singles, be specific about what you are looking for and find a date on your own schedule.

• Use email or E-letter writing to express yourself. Some of us are not as good with words and tend to get tongue-tied, saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. If you have something important to say to your mate or loved one and can't express it verbally, write it down in an email or letter and then discuss their response or reaction in person.

• Send brief text messages just to let your mate or friends know that you are thinking of them. It's a quick and easy way to make someone feel good.

• Do use Skype, email, text messaging and any form of technology to keep a long-distance relationship alive. Since you are missing the in-person connection, relying on technology will help keep the bond.

• Use technology to keep people updated on what you are doing. Update your Facebook status and page with pictures from your latest adventure. Send a quick text to a colleague if you are running late. Email your travel schedule to your family before a trip.

Technology "I Don'ts"

• Don't put it in print. Couples argue via email or text message at their peril. Not only do they lose the human interaction which can help to solve the problem but they are putting all of their angry or negative feelings into print - allowing them to be revisited and brought up over and over again.

• Your smartphone should never be the third wheel on your date. Nobody is so important that they cannot sit through a date or dinner with friends without checking their phone. Try leaving your phone in your pocket or purse until the end of the evening. You may be surprised at how good it feels to focus on the company you are with.

• Save some for the imagination. Oftentimes couples who text each other too frequently throughout the day are left with nothing to talk about when they return home to each other in the evening. Use texting as a teaser for more details to come.

• Sending a text after a first date is a wimpy way out. Guys and girls who text immediately after a date send mixed signals. For some it is a quick way to write off a bad date without guilt; for others it is a way to keep the person hanging on, just in case you want to see them again. Either way - it leaves things unclear, which can be messy.

• Don't dial, email or update when drunk. This goes for sending a work email after too many cocktails, updating your Facebook status or texting potential lovers. A drunken email or text message never captures exactly what you mean and like all technology, once it's out there, you can't take it back.

For more information or to join for free, visit www.lavalife.com.

SOURCE Lavalife