This Valentine's Day, the Review spoke to learners at THS Tom Naudé on whether they prefer the traditional or digital approach to love and companionship.
POLOKWANE – Teenagers and technology go hand-in-hand, like Romeo and Juliet.
Communication is made through emojis and texting as well as via social media platforms such as WhatsApp, TikTok and Instagram, on which they post.
Research suggests the increasing popularity of text messaging has made this mode of communication the preferred interaction portal for teens, but are there still teens who prefer the traditional approach?
The Polokwane Review spoke to learners at THS Tom Naudé on whether they prefer the traditional or digital approach to love and companionship.
Matthew Fourie: I think both can work. There is a smaller chance of facing awkward silence when using the digital approach and with traditional, you can really see who the person is by their body language.Mmakgotso Moetlo: How do you fall in love with someone over text? I can prove this with the fact that I am in a year-long traditional relationship.HP Robberts: Both will work for me. Digital is convenient as you can communicate the whole day but with traditional, you can see if there is attraction.Ofentse Thaba: I think traditional love is better. You can experience each other‘s emotions. Feelings are not the same over the phone. If we do start up a conversation online, we need to meet soon after.Miaska Erasmus: I will go for traditional as you can see a person’s personality face-to-face.Thembi Buda: I think digital is better as it is easier to communicate throughout the day.Monica Harmse: I prefer the traditional way. You need to spend time together to get to know each other.For more breaking news follow us on FacebookTwitter Instagram or join our WhatsApp group
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Raeesa Sempe is a Caxton Award-winning Digital Editor with nine years’ experience in the industry. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand and started her journey as a community journalist for the Polokwane Review in 2015. She then became the online journalist for the Review in 2016 where she excelled in solidifying the Review’s digital footprint through Facebook lives, content creation and marketing campaigns. Raeesa then moved on to become the News Editor of the Bonus Review in 2019 and scooped up the Editorial Employee of the Year award in the same year. She is the current Digital Editor of the Polokwane Review-Observer, a position she takes pride in. Raeesa is married with one child and enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music and baking – when she has the time. “I still believe that if your aim is to change the world, journalism is a more immediate short-term weapon. – Tom Stoppard
