When I began this blog, many close to me offered their support and encouragement, seemingly convinced I'd thrown in the towel as passive-aggressively as possible. Truthfully though, this isn't about dating or even the increasingly disconnected pool that Los Angeles affords. Modern courtship has certainly changed since my parents met, way back before one could hide their flaws behind a handful of good hair day selfies. But the changes we've seen have less to do with the proliferation of dating apps or relaxed standards that accept Netflix and chill as a reasonable second date offering. Instead I propose we're in the middle of a character shift that applies to anyone with access to internet.
Steven Johnson's "How We Got To Now" identifies mirrors as one of the prime reasons the western world saw an increase of individualism in the late 19th century. As the advent of more durable and affordable glass mirrors put self reflection in the hands of common people we began to see the world with our own image foremost in mind. A simple mirror may seem insignificant but the psychology behind this shift can't be ignored. Our priorities and focus in life are directly affected by what or who is in front of our eyes. Similar to the impact mirrors have had on modern society, the internet continues to drive our focus inward albeit through promises of connection to others.
The vast network of people connected globally through the web has been a boon for most industries and started countless new businesses, but it's the personal value that drives the technology forward. While marketing generally thrives on the selfishness of consumers we don't want to feel like we're feeding our self-centric cravings so every new feature is presented as an opportunity to connect with others. In reality we buy more products as they are targeted specifically to individual profiles, read news that supports our perspective without regard for its questionable integrity and post more pictures of our own faces everyday. The computer in your hand is greater than the fabled Magic Mirror and capable of supporting our grandest delusions without fear anyone else will be displayed more fair.
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