In many ways, intimacy drives the development and growth of relationships. Intimacy in a relationship requires communication, thereby developing trust, passion and commitment between partners. However, technology is changing the way individuals interact online (Pauley, 2007). The lack of verbal and nonverbal cues in CMC hinders intimacy in romantic relationships, and the absence of physical contact "leads to less interpersonal influence and higher levels of private self-awareness than communication face to face” (Sassenberg, 2005). For a couple who primarily developed and maintained their relationship through publicized sources, intimacy may not be as important as other factors in romance. However, it is a basic human need to engage in sexual activity and the inability to do so will eventually become a problem. One, the other or both partners will seek an outside source of intimacy. Communication is a fault when this happens, as partners experience infidelity and untrustworthy qualities. CMC is not an optimal way to communicate sexual feelings, so developing and maintaining it face-to-face is essential to a romantic relationship when it comes to intimacy and practicing safely.