Assignment 2
Unique No: 853527
Literature Review
Due 2025
, HRPYC81
Assignment 2
Unique No: 853527
Literature Review
Due 2025
1. Introduction
The rapid evolution of digital communication technologies has fundamentally
transformed the landscape of romantic relationship formation, challenging longstanding
paradigms rooted in face-to-face interactions. Platforms such as Tinder, Bumble, and
OkCupid exemplify this shift, providing algorithm-driven, mediated environments that
facilitate rapid pairing and redefine notions of intimacy, trust, and relational
development. These technological innovations evoke complex questions about how
online environments influence the core components of romantic relationships, their
formation processes, and psychological outcomes. To critically understand these
phenomena, a multidisciplinary review—drawing from psychological, sociological, and
cultural perspectives—is essential. This review synthesizes empirical evidence and
theoretical insights, emphasizing the importance of contextual factors, particularly within
South Africa’s diverse socio-cultural landscape, characterized by socio-economic
disparities, cultural norms, and infrastructural inequalities. The aim is to identify gaps in
current knowledge and inform future research and interventions that promote authentic,
healthy, and meaningful online romantic relationships.