The Modern Day Armor

The ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) reported in its Twitter recently that the number of cases of HIV/ADIS in the Philippines “jumped from 528 in 2008, to 709 last year.” The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) is alarmed over the rising number of cases, and noted that “aside from sex workers, patients consist of young urban professionals, like call center agents.” Some patients reportedly admitted to getting the virus after engaging in casual or group sex with people they got to know in the internet, particularly social networking sites. ANC then made this last tweet: “Is social media making it easier to engage in casual sex?”

This got me wondering: are the relationships that are products of the interconnectedness internet brings so superficial that it has become less meaningful and more dispensable?

Personally, nothing beats building relationships the old way: by being personal. Using modern means is acceptable when it is necessary, as for long-distance relationships and during short periods of being apart. But for it to be the only means of communication, from the very inception of the relationship until its highest peak, relying entirely and solely on technology may produce a very superficial relationship. This may be a reason why casual sex relationships are more prevalent now, in addition to the shift in the attitude of the younger generation to casual sex. Maybe the relationships they seek online are really to fulfill their desires that they cannot allow to surface with people they know face to face. Maybe technology cloaks them with the necessary armor to allow them to just go for what they want, without concerning themselves with the consequences (emotional and social) their actions may bring.

Follow ANC on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ancalerts

8th.