I’m an old childless cat lady, so I don’t know much about Valentine’s Day. But I observe the world from my swivel chair and it turns out that a bit has changed in this matter.

Valentine’s Day – The Most Romantic Day of the Year

Valentine’s Day, the annual holiday of love celebrated on February 14, has undergone quite a transformation in the era of social media. Although today it is mainly associated with romantic gestures and commercialization, its history dates back to ancient Rome. And this history is as romantic as it is tragic. According to one legend, St. Valentine was a priest who secretly married couples in love, despite the ban of Emperor Claudius II. It is not hard to guess that the emperor was not thrilled – and Valentine met an unpleasant end.

Valentine’s Day became popular in Europe in the Middle Ages, especially thanks to the courtly culture of love – you know, Tristan and Isolde and such :). In the 19th century, the tradition of sending decorative cards became widespread, which was a pretty cool idea… if you could count on an efficient post office. And today? Instagram posts, Facebook stories, and TikTok videos have replaced cards surreptitiously tossed into a loved one’s backpack.

From Cards to Posts. How the Form of Expressing Feelings Has Changed

Valentine’s Day used to be an art of conspiracy – handwritten heart-shaped cards tossed into backpacks, anonymous notes full of poetry (or crooked rhymes), and the classic: chocolates and flowers, always from the supermarket at the last minute. Today? All you need is a phone, some filters, and one magic word: a hashtag.

Now, love is declared in Instagram posts, TikTok videos, and Facebook stories, often with a romantic caption like, “The best thing that’s ever happened to me 💕 #mylove #forever.” Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that – modern technology allows for creative expression of feelings. You can make an entire Valentine’s Day film production with editing, music, and effects better than a Hollywood romantic comedy.

But there is also the other side of the coin – pressure. Because if everyone is posting photos from a romantic candlelight dinner, maybe my homemade pizza and sweatpants aren’t enough? And so a race for the most spectacular declaration of love is born. Is it really necessary to shout about your feelings all over the internet? Maybe it’s worth saving those “I love you”s for a quiet message or a handwritten card (if you still remember how to write with a pen 😉).

Is it bad that Valentine’s Day has moved to the internet? It’s hard to say, but it’s certain that love now has more filters – literally.

Love on Display. The Pressure of Social Media

The biggest stress of Valentine’s Day used to be whether you’d get a card from your crush or whether you’d have a “maybe next year” type of day. Now? Now, the stress starts the moment you scroll through Instagram. All those perfect photos of candlelit dinners, bouquets of roses bigger than their owners, and diamond rings make you wonder if you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day in the wrong version of reality.

Because if the internet says romantic date = Paris, does an evening on the couch with pizza and Netflix still count? (Hint: of course it does!). The problem is that social media creates patterns that can easily lead to unnecessary comparisons. So instead of enjoying the moment, you start to wonder if your love life should be more like a romantic comedy.

Valentine’s Day Gift Revue – from Plushies to Influencers

The same goes for gifts. It used to be simple: a teddy bear, flowers, maybe chocolates. Now? Now there are so many options that it’s easy to have a panic attack. Think personalized mugs or pillows. Now skydiving for couples, pottery courses to “create memories together” are all the rage… and of course Valentine’s Day packages from influencers who happen to recommend the perfect gifts at this time.

Sure, there’s nothing wrong with being creative with gifts, but isn’t it weird that a Valentine’s Day surprise starts to feel more like a marketing campaign? And then people get beauty kits that fit Facebook’s algorithm better than their significant other.

But the most important thing is that the gift has meaning – and not necessarily in terms of price. The best gift is one that brings joy and shows that someone really knows us. In the real world, gestures count, not the number of likes. Sometimes chocolate bought in a local shop and a sincere “nice to have you” mean more than the most spectacular post on Facebook.

Single on Valentine’s Day? The Internet Will Take Care of You

What if you’re single? Or like me, a lonely childless cat lady? Once upon a time, you could just watch your favorite movie, order a pizza, and get on with your day. Now? The Internet won’t let you forget that  YOU ARE ALONE. Every scroll through social media is a sea of ​​happy couples, hearts, and ads like “find the love of your life in 14 days – money back guarantee!”

But don’t worry, the internet has a solution for that too – a counterattack in the form of anti-Valentine’s Day. Memes about how love is overrated, “Galentine’s Day” for girls celebrating with wine, and a marathon of movies in which relationships end spectacularly badly.

The truth is that Valentine’s Day is  only once a year and doesn’t have to be a romantic holiday. It’s a good time to just do something nice – for yourself, for your friends, for your cat. And if you feel like spending it with Netflix and a bag of chips? That’s absolutely fine too.

Has Social Media Killed Romanticism or Enhanced It?

Alright, so if Valentine’s Day has changed so much, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Should we officially say goodbye to romance and accept that it has been devoured by Instagram algorithms?

Not really. On the one hand, the “show” version of love can lead to pressure and unhealthy comparisons. On the other, social media offers a new way to celebrate relationships. After all, you can use it to declare your love from a distance, create a video full of shared memories, or simply send someone a sweet message.

The most important thing is to find authenticity in all of this. Because whether you write “I love you” on a card, in a text message, or in a post with a hashtag – what matters is that it is sincere. And the rest? It’s just packaging.

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