Strategic Misrepresentation In Online Dating

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have continued to show that more than one third of the relationships in the U.S. are started online and are very successful. (Jayson, USA TODAY, 2013) However, statistics also prove that more lying occurs during the beginning phases of online dating, than the old fashioned way of meeting face to face. By being online, you can be whoever you want to be and create an ideal person for your potential match. This is a form of lies of omission, which means that some people just prefer to tell indirect lies versus telling the truth.
Some of these common lies told on social media would be about your appearance, occupation, and even gender. People just find it easier to lie via online especially when their chances of being confronted are slim to none. …show more content…

This particular study observes issues that affect the online dating service that the users strategize for misrepresentation, which means their personal features that they mindfully and deliberately misrepresent. The data that is being used is from a survey of online dating service users. There were seven categories that fall under misrepresentation– personal assets, relationship goals, personal interests, and personal attributes, past relationships, weight, and age – which were examined. This study came to the conclusion that men were more likely to misrepresent personal assets, relationship goals, personal interests, and personal attributes, whereas women are more likely to misrepresent weight. The study additionally examined that self-monitoring was the strongest and most consistent interpreter of misrepresentation in online dating. When there is no openness, carefulness, and honesty then these are usually the beginning signs of a relationship with a lot of …show more content…

For example online dating prevents people from facing a greater chance of being rejected in person. By allowing people to create their own self-presentation, online dating offers more privacy within their lives than traditional communication. Also online dating offers physical distance which is a benefit to those that are insecure and fearful on how others perceive them. Therefore, people prefer to online dating as an easier method to express themselves more

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