Valentine’s Day is an opportunity for many to share their affection for the people they love. For many people, love is shown through chocolate, teddy bears and flowers, but for some, love is displayed through text messages, Snapchats and Facetiming with their significant other. With the rise of technology use, time spent face to face with your boyfriend or girlfriend has decreased and dating has become more electronic.

For Maleak Johnson, junior, saying “I love you” to someone over text is an effortless way to express his feelings.

“I’ve said ‘I love you’ over text because everyone does,” Johnson said. “It’s easier.”

Johnson feels as though technology and relationships don’t mix well when it comes to other people’s lives.

“I feel like technology in relationships is negative,” Johnson said. “People abuse it. They want you to Snapchat and text them 24/7 and people lurk on other people’s Instagram.

For Johnson, the amount of time he texts or spends time with his significant other depends on whether or not they go to the same school, as him.

“If the girl I’m talking to doesn’t go to our school, I will see her every weekend,” Johnson said. “Seeing them at school affects the amount of time I text them. If I get tired of seeing them at school, I need a break and won’t text them after [school].”

Some high schoolers go farther than just talking to somebody online, they try to meet people online using dating apps. Destiny Martin, junior, used the dating app “Hot or Not” her freshman year.

“I wanted to know if somebody was interested in me,” said Martin. “It worked for a little bit. I never actually met anyone in person because I was too young.”

Looking back on the way she tried to meet people online, Martin said, “Dating apps are popular but not good, It’s better to meet someone in person.”

Having a long distance relationship in high school can make you feel like the only way to communicate with each other is online. Adrianna Patrick, senior, and her girlfriend Amber King, who graduated from Maplewood Richmond Heights High School, only saw each other every other week in the beginning of their relationship.

“Early in our relationship we’d Facetime and text more than we saw each other,” said Patrick. “It sucked not to see her as much, but now that she has a car it helps, and Facetime seals the gap.”

Even though Patrick uses technology in her relationship, she still believes it has a negative effect on relationships.

“People take things others post too seriously,” said Patrick.  “It’s not that deep. The second people break up with somebody, they post that they’re single or stuff about the other person. They should know it’s okay to have a private life.”

For Kelsi Bryant, junior, and boyfriend Darrion Smith, senior, they use technology to an advantage in their relationship. Their main form of communication is Facetiming and texting.

“We Facetime a lot and I see her, but I’m not actually with her a lot, said Smith. “Before, we texted a lot so I decided to ask her out over text because I thought it would be easier.”

Bryant feels technology has allowed her to stay a lot more in touch with her boyfriend.

“By using technology, you can stay connected with them all the time but it’s easy for people to be in your business online,” said Bryant.

Although technology can impact a relationship both positively and negatively, Patrick feels that technology has caused people to become out of touch with reality.

“Technology has a negative impact, everything is taken too seriously and people can’t even date like normal,” said Patrick. “When you go out on a date, put your phone down and enjoy their company.”