Since the advent of the internet, there has been a proliferation of long-distance relationships.

These are people who connect with each other online, whether it be through platforms such as a dating app, social media, niche communities, interest-driven groups, forums, etc.

Thanks to the internet, people are meeting potential partners they would never have come across in real life.

To this end, there have been a multitude of long-distance relationships established online.

Sometimes, these are people who were proactive in looking for someone online, and other times, it happens organically through constant exposure to each other online.

Whether you went online to intentionally meet someone for romance, such as on a dating app, or you were merely socializing with someone through a platform such as social media, a niche community, an interest-driven group, a forum, etc., you met someone who you developed a romantic interest in.

This has forced you to consider whether a long-distance relationship with this guy would be prudent.

Sadly, the majority of people who get into long-distance relationships don’t have long-lasting relationships.

Much of this has to do with the sheer challenge of dating someone who doesn’t live nearby.

Whenever a partner is in need of emotional support, there is only a phone or computer to connect with their partner.

That partner isn’t physically there to give you that emotional support.

Whenever you are out and about or hanging out with friends who have partners, you are always the odd one out.

All they do is talk about their partners, which is a constant reminder that yours isn’t with you physically.

At the times you want physical intimacy, your partner isn’t physically present to satiate this need, relegating you to phone sex.

If you get sick, he isn’t there to take care of you and tuck you into bed, keeping a watchful eye over you.

Whenever anything breaks and requires fixing or errands have to be run, he isn’t physically there to aid you.

There is only so much you can do with him over the phone or a computer.

He is basically a virtual boyfriend.

A virtual boyfriend you primarily get to see through a screen and not much else.

No amount of sweet words whenever you are communicating with him online can replace the value of him being physically by your side.

These are just a few of the major challenges that come with having a long-distance relationship with someone you met online.

The few who survive and end up having long-term relationships are the ones who already have a plan to ultimately be with each other in the same area.

They have a set time in mind for when they will be living in the same city, and they keep each other accountable.

They regularly check in with each other to make sure they are each taking the necessary steps to get them that much closer to that set time.

In the mean time, they meet each other in person as much as possible.

This is where you are working hard to not only save money to facilitate living in the same city by a set time but also to see each other in person as frequently as possible.

The average long-distance couple only gets to see each other every 3 to 6 months.

This is a huge disadvantage to maintaining a healthy long-distance relationship.

That kind of time apart makes each other’s absence that much more prevalent and often leads to the inevitable end of the long-distance relationship.