A recent episode of Black Mirror imagines a future where who we date, and how long each relationship lasts, is determined by a mysterious, all-knowing computer called the System. After a series of failed relationships, which help the System learn more about you, users are matched with their one true love with a 99.8% success rate.

The fantasy could soon become a reality, thanks to advances in augmented reality and machine learningA field of artificial intelligence that aims to use data to teach machines to "learn" for themselves without the need for specific programming.. According to industry leaders, computers will be able to assess the compatibility of a couple using just 300 words from their Twitter pages. In nightclubs, romantic hopefuls will scan people with their phones to view their profiles.n

Since its launch in 2012, no app has changed the dating game quite like Tinder. Six years later, users in 196 countries swipe 1.4 billion times a day. "Swipe rightTinder presents its users with an image of someone nearby. They can then swipe right with their finger if they are interested, or left if they are not. If two people swipe right for each other, they are matched." even has an entry in the Collins English Dictionary.

The boom in dating apps has particularly affected LGBT people. In 2005, 20% of same-sex couples met online. That figure has now rocketed to 70%.

But this revolution is not without danger, especially for young people. Experts warn that technology is driving a rise in abusive behaviour among teenagers.

Roughly a third of teens have had a partner use digital means to put pressure on them to have sex or share sexual images, and 12% have admitted to forwarding a sext without consent.

In 2015, sending intimate pictures of someone without their knowledge became punishable by two years in prison. Experts warn that the victims can experience similar trauma to physical assault.

Even mutual relationships risk becoming obsessive in a world of 24-hour messaging. More than half of adolescent girls and boys have dated someone who used social media and texting to control them by bombarding them with messages or tracking their location.

Absolutely, say some. It used to be that most people married someone who lived within four miles of them. Now we can break the boundaries of distance and find a real connection with someone on the other side of the world, not just settle for what's around the corner. Moreover, people with disabilities and people who might otherwise be socially isolated have more ways to reach out to others for connection and understanding.

Sadly not, respond others. We should be concerned that having instant romance at our fingertips is making people scared to commit. We're always on the lookout for exciting new conquests, rather than facing the realities of building a real relationship with its inevitable ups and downs. Most importantly, we must educate young people about privacy and healthy relationships to combat the dangers of digital dating.

Machine learning - A field of artificial intelligence that aims to use data to teach machines to "learn" for themselves without the need for specific programming.

Swipe right - Tinder presents its users with an image of someone nearby. They can then swipe right with their finger if they are interested, or left if they are not. If two people swipe right for each other, they are matched.