WASHINGTON - Before e-mail, texting and tweeting, people used the phone or met in person to arrange dates.

Relationship experts say they're now noticing an alarming new trend that could be getting in the way of love, often preventing couples from even meeting.

"It's the dating way now -- I mean that's how you start your relationship, some end their relationship through text messaging -- state of the times I guess," said Ashley Blum, an Alexandria (web | news) resident.

Instead of picking up the phone or meeting face to face, it appears singles are turning to technology. A recent AT&T survey found 67 percent of people have used text messages to flirt, and 28 percent text their significant other at least three times a day.

"It's everywhere -- everyone is texting, everyone e-mailing and it just seems to be a diffused focus on dating these days," said Christie Nightingale, a relationship expert.

Nightingale is a matchmaker with a D.C. dating service. She calls it an "electronic epidemic" and says it's causing clients to give up courting. She believes the back and forth texts or e-mails can cause a would-be couple to crash.

"Seems to be prolonging the process of connecting and meeting one another to establish a relationship," noted Nightingale.

Many local residents agree.

"You don't know how they really feel about you because they're just sending words to you other than talking to you over the phone," said Shemique Lindo, a D.C. resident.

"Some people say you text too much -- I wish you'd use the phone -- the phone is more personal," added James Pai, a D.C. resident.

"I've heard stories of people being broken up with text, e-mail -- I think that's just using technology as a copout," said Laura Cheek, a Rockville resident.

Experts warn constantly hitting the send button instead of being up close and personal can zap social skills. In a nation where 51 percent of marriages end in divorce, counselors say stop texting and start talking.

Experts say "high-tech dating" is taking the thrill out of courtship and short-circuiting romance. They recommend limiting texts and e-mails and instead calling a person and having a conversation, or better yet, meeting face to face.

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