Many experts are on the fence about whether technology has been a positive addition for relationships.
On the one hand, it helps the two of you to stay in constant contact, instantly share aspects of your daily lives (like a picture of the sandwich you’re having for lunch) and to communicate ideas and plans for the future (like ideas for doing up your bedroom on Pinterest, or reviews for your next holiday destination on Tripadvisor).
The internet is awash with apps and technology to bring you and your better half closer together
On the other hand, technology can be extremely alienating and damaging. Having a smartphone (and, thus, the internet) at your beck and call 24/7 means that you’re less likely to communicate face-to-face.
Online activities can also cause jealousy and anger if one partner feels withdrawn. After all, if one of you spends endless hours glued to one screen while the other is glued to another, then that’s not giving you much time for love in the real world.
So why not turn to more positive online exploits this Valentine’s Day? The internet is awash with apps and technology to bring you and your better half closer together, and even games that you can play as a duo. This is our hand-picked selection.
LoveByte
This is an Android app that promises to bring you closer together. It is literally a little world for you and your loved one to share online – a place where you, and you two alone, can chat, share images, exchange facts and celebrate milestones. One good-fun extra is the scratch card game, which allows you to create a card for your partner to ‘scratch’ to uncover the idea for your next date night.
Kahnoodle
Built for iOS devices, this app is all about making your partner happy. You can search for interesting things to do nearby (which is great if you’re planning a romantic weekend away), and you can give kudos to your better half if they do something to make you happy; they then get to redeem those kudos at a later date. If you and your partner want to invest some time and energy into appreciating each other, then this one could be for you.
Love offline
Don’t fancy online pursuits this Valentine’s Day? These are our favourite real-world games for couples to play once you’ve disconnected.
Board games are great at bringing people together – and that’s very true for couples too. Sometimes it’s easy to get bogged down in the routine of it all, and there’s nothing like a games night to help snap you focus on having a bit of fun (and healthy competition!) for an evening.
There are board games that have been created especially for couples, such as Enchanted Evening. This is ideal if you fancy something sweet and romantic, rather than risqué. You write down a secret wish and then move around the board as quickly as you can – the winner gets their wish granted.
Of course, Twister is the ultimate couple games if you want to get a little physical. Just let the game take its natural course and you’ll see why. Other alternatives to normal board games include Sexy Scrabble and Strip Checkers. We’re sure you can use your imagination for both of these.
Finally, you could try Embrace, dubbed the ultimate couple’s board game. It covers everything from romance to sexuality and eroticism, with lots of sensual challenges along the way.