As this season of It’s Not You, It’s Men comes to a close, I wanted to return to a topic discussed earlier on the show. Hosts Rev. Run and Tyrese Gibson were joined by Comedian Yvette Nicole Brown, Tinder CEO Sean Rad and model/actress Amber Rose to examine the modern romance and how to date in 2016.

The panel discussed the following challenges people encounter in modern romance and dating:

Self-Respect

There was a time when a picture of a person’s private parts weren’t on display for everyone to see or to receive. Women especially used to protect those precious parts of themselves and not share their body with just anyone.

A stigma of shame was attached to someone who freely put themselves on display, however dignity and self-respect in this area is now reimagined , if not completely gone.

Nowadays, people either introduce themselves via pictures of their body parts or use these as profile pictures on social media. There seems to be a lack of self-respect in this area among many individuals. This newfound freedom can often change the expectation when dating.

Independent Women

Some women negate the need to submit to a man. Most believe at some point within the relationship there can only be one person leading the relationship. Submission will eventually have to come into play in order for the relationship to succeed.

A woman’s independence is welcomed in the relationship but there needs to be a balance.

“Don’t independence your way into loneliness – Tyrese Gibson

Swiping for Love

Times have changed when it comes to dating and meeting people. Most people are connecting online.

• 1 out of 5 Relationships Start Online
• 40% of Americans have tried online dating

With the advent of social media and Internet dating platforms, such as Tinder, digital avenues have been created for people to meet. Within the three years Tinder has been in existence, they’ve matched over 10 billion people.

What happens after they meet is up to the individuals involved. Some can meet their potential mate. Others might meet a new friend. Don’t ever discount the person you meet; even if the two of you don’t hit it off, they might have a friend who might make a better match for you.

Dating in 2016 is totally different than it was just 10 years ago. As with all things there is a learning curve and an adjustment period. However some of the changes have proved to be more challenging than others. Finding and connecting with like-minded people has become a bit perplexing but doable.

If you choose to use online dating, create a strategy. Make sure your profile is clear as to what you are looking for in a relationship and your desired mate. Remember to be realistic but true to yourself. Don’t just surf through people as if you are looking at a menu, but take time to disconnect online and connect in person.

If you honestly want to meet a potential mate, don’t make sex the No. 1 priority. Take time to get to know each other and foster a real relationship.

BMWK what modern day dating challenges are you encountering?