Digital love: Valentine’s Day brings out the internet’s romantic side

Like any holiday, the arrival of Valentine’s Day comes with a flurry of memes and jokes for us to have a giggle at. But there’s also a softer side to the internet on show today, with messages of admiration and devotion – with a distinct techie twist – spreading the love like a computer virus.

For some, Valentine’s Day is about chocolates, flowers and maybe even some jewellery. Some tech lovers may have been given a Kate Spade USB ring by their beloved today, or even had their Foursquare data turned into a necklace pendant. Maybe your lover picked you up a standby button on a chain and made a crude joke about turning you on.

If you love gaming as much as you love your other half, you may have invested in some 8-bit flowers or even a single red rose made from Lego. Or maybe you opted to indulge their sweet tooth with some Space Invaders chocolates.

But, for the internet, this holiday is just another excuse to make fun with memes.

Forget the roses, give us the STEM

Of course, it’s not all snark and cynicism, and some techies will like to tell their loved ones how they feel on this arbitrary amorous day. And when we express our love, we do it with puns, mathematics, code and references to the technology we hold dear.

^{Illustrations by Nerdy Dirty}

^{E-cards via someecards.com}

^{Cards by Paperwheel on Etsy}

^{Card by Fat Bunny Press on Etsy}

^{Card by Able and Game on Etsy}

^{Card by Code Cards on Etsy}

^{Card by Sapling Press on Etsy}

^{Card by Dude and Chick on Etsy}

^{Venn diagram print by Satchel and Sage on Etsy}

Main image design by Might Tees