Dating & Relationships: A Dehumanising Paradox of Infinite Choice?

Dating & Relationships: A Dehumanising Paradox of Infinite Choice?

Author: Gareth King August 24, 2025 Duration: 45:49

The internet promised unprecedented connection. But has it instead damaged the quality and authenticity of dating - offering endless choice, a shopping mentality, and a reduced emphasis on the kind of genuine, in-person connection that actually leads somewhere?

We're joined by Elly Klein - professional dating mentor, author, and founder of Your Dating Bestie - whose career is built on helping people navigate a dating landscape the internet fundamentally broke, and who has seen every way the apps fail the people using them.

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

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Visit us: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/

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In this episode we investigate how online dating transformed romance into a numbers game, examine the pitfalls that trap even the most well-intentioned daters, explore how generational attitudes toward dating have shifted in a swipe-driven world, and ask whether the perfect dating profile is the solution, or part of the problem.

00:00 - The internet's impact on dating and what it fundamentally changed

03:09 - The most common pitfalls of online dating and how to avoid them

06:10 - The numbers game: why online dating feels like a full time job

09:01 - The shopping mentality in dating and what it's doing to genuine connection

12:01 - Crafting a dating profile that actually represents who you are

15:07 - Understanding preferences and filters: helpful boundaries or missed opportunities?

22:35 - Navigating preferences in dating: where to hold firm and where to stay open

29:01 - How technology is changing the nature of relationships themselves

35:03 - Practical strategies for success in the online dating landscape

39:23 - Recognising and overcoming burnout in the digital dating world

43:12 - The power of perseverance and positivity when dating feels impossible

Guest links - Elly Klein

Website: https://yourdatingbestie.com

Blog: https://www.ellyklein.com/blog


It’s a question that nags at anyone who’s ever felt a pang of nostalgia or a wave of digital fatigue: are we better or worse off because of our constant connection? Hosted by Gareth King, Ruined By The Internet? digs into that uneasy feeling, moving beyond simple headlines to explore how our online world actively moulds society, culture, and the texture of daily life. This isn’t about reviewing apps or gadgets; it’s about treating the digital realm as the pervasive environment it has become. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leading thinkers and researchers from around the world, dissecting the real evidence behind our shared anxieties and hopes. You’ll hear nuanced discussions that ask whether the casualties we often blame on technology are inevitable, or if we’re simply misdiagnosing deeper societal shifts. This podcast provides a space for considered reflection, offering listeners a clearer lens through which to view their own place in a world that is, for better or worse, thoroughly wired.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 30

Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
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