Good Material

Smartphones, social media, and dating apps are omnipresent in the characters’ lives as the motif of technology represents connection, instant communication, and romantic possibilities. However, technology also creates disconnection through the illusion of intimacy, loneliness behind screens, and the struggle to form genuine connections without meeting in person. For example, technology allows Jen to catfish Andy, fooling him into thinking that he is forming a connection with Tash. Though Sophie uses dating apps ubiquitously, she remains unfulfilled in her romantic life, only finding a genuine attraction to Andy after meeting him the old-fashioned way: through a meet-cute in a bar. Andy uses technology to fuel his obsessive thoughts by endlessly scrolling through old messages, photos, and playlists to recreate his intimacy with Jen. In the depths of his depression, he spends countless hours scouring her social media profile to unearth answers for why she left him and why she’s dating Seb; as he admits, “I hate that I’ve become a private investigator for my own broken relationship” (71). The novel hence emphasizes the younger generation’s reliance on digital communication to form connections and relationships and the negative ways it can impact authentic communication and intimacy.