We are surrounded by technology every day - from Instagram's ever-changing algorithms to facial recognition software. However, there's something quite unsettling about using an algorithm to determine your life partner when it comes to your love life.
Netflix's The One was released in early March this year (2021) – and it has received quite a lot of backlash from critics and viewers. The series presents a DNA test that can determine your perfect partner – who you are genetically predisposed to fall in love with. It's based on John Marrs' best-selling book and, in all honesty, it is an excellent series to binge after a long day.
Like The One and Married at First Sight, dating shows are becoming increasingly popular with the younger generation. These shows make us question our current relationships and encourage us to use technology to find a solution. We are verging on using technology to solve our dating woes and maybe even find our true love.
In a survey conducted by the UK's biggest family law firm, Stowe Family Law it was revealed that a staggering 77% of people would use science to find true love. With hectic careers and personal lives, I can see the appeal of using an algorithm to sort out your love life in one evening. Besides, you could save a whole lot of time on bad Tinder dates, broken hearts and mulling over what his text really meant.
Despite already being in a loving relationship, I have to admit The One made me question whether I would take the DNA test to find out if my current partner really was 'the one.' After dwelling on the subject for a matter of minutes, I concluded that DNA has absolutely nothing to do with my love life. Then again, as a romantic and creative, this revelation came as no surprise to me.
And even if it could, a DNA test would not consider people's current job, financial, housing, environmental and family situations. I've been in enough relationships to know there's a lot more to it than just love. Oh, if I had a penny for every time someone said, 'It's just not the right time'.
With so many of us willing to rely on science for love, I thought it was time to reflect on why couples separate, and the role technology plays in modern-day relationships.
Natasha Burton, a lawyer at Stowe Family Law Firm, said: "Adultery still plays a massive part in why couples separate. Parties drifting apart is common, and that can be when children leave home or circumstances change."
Couples are still cheating, separating and enquiring about divorce at an impressive rate. Natasha said that sometimes individuals will look into a divorce to prepare themselves for if or when their partner files for separation. People liked to be armed with knowledge to protect themselves against a potential divorce.
If we are doubting our relationships and looking into divorce, maybe our 'true love’ isn't as permanent as we would like to think. The One removes the heart from the equation and matches couples on their biochemicals in the brain. Of course, this show and its love-finding algorithm are fictional, but technology and science play a role in real-life relationships.
Technology, social media and dating apps already play a huge role in our romantic lives. But, in my opinion, there is a significant difference between flicking through suitors on Tinder and using an algorithm to find love.
Natasha argued there is also a downside to technology. She added: "Many couples say they spend too much time responding to emails at night; they're not engaging with me, they're always on their phone etc."
She continued: "Technology can help parties, in relation to divorce and separation, because it is an easy way for people to communicate."
Technology and science already play an integral role in our human relationships. We use Tinder algorithms to find partners and video calling to date them. But the question remains – if a soulmate finding algorithm existed, would you use it?
Words by George Arkley for Female First, who you can follow @George_Arkley on Twitter.
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