ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to open the discussion on this Hamletian question: to use or not to use social media while exploring possible relationships and eventually building life partnerships. Other questions of balance also emerge: work–life balance; private–public life; trust–distrust; direct–reverse trust (mutual trust balance); and the key question: what is the tipping point between success and failure of such life partnerships as result of using social media. This study involves both secondary (literature survey) and primary research and seeks to find out if dating apps represent an alternative for meeting possible life partners in an offline context, and if yes, what the success rate of such partnerships might be. First, the theoretical issues are investigated, then the practical study focuses on a younger, educated generation that intensively use social media for exploring and expanding their social contacts. Specifically, the survey is piloted on a group of Romanian students and recent graduates as typical representatives of their generation, who have used at least once one of the social networks for dating purposes (Facebook Dating, Tinder, okCupid, PlentyOfFish, etc.). The authors used a semi-structured anonymous questionnaire applied online in September-October 2022 to determine which are the preferred dating apps in Romania for the young generation, and what is the general perception of using these channels for meeting possible life partners.
