Negative Aspects of Online Dating With technology advances steadily in today’s society, individuals steadily advance too. One of these aspects includes dating. Individuals in today’s society hope to find companionship through online dating websites so that someday some online daters might be able to find a companion. With websites like eHarmony, Match, Christian Mingle, OkCupid, Black People Meet, and JDate, finding the one seems to be easier and more convenient than ever. Most of these websites even display statistics showing that one out of five relationships start online. The questions that should be asked, is this a better and safer option than looking for the one in person? Individuals tend to ignore the possible risks involving online dating. They are willing to release personal information from pictures of oneself, to locations of where they work, or live just for the possibility of finding a companion. The online users have to ask themselves: is the risk worth it in the end, or does the benefit outweighs the cost? When searching for a companionship through online dating websites, negative aspects such as profiles, self-presentation, self-disclosure, predators and sexual mishaps, may outweigh the positive aspects and cause more problems and strife then actual good. Profiles The first part of the online dating, the profile, a summary of one self with positive sentences and adjectives, is where the risk begins. Dating websites requires the website users to start by writing about himself or herself. Individuals usually do not include any negative aspects, which could potentially harm his or her chance in attracting a companion. Instead, individuals put whatever they can to have the best website search as possible. Some of thi... ... middle of paper ... ...080/13698570701488936 Couch, D., Liamputtong, P., & Pitts, M. (2012). What are the real and perceived risks and dangers of online dating? Perspectives from online daters. Health, Risk & Society, 14(7-8), 697-714. doi:10.1080/13698575.2012.720964 Davis, M., Hart, G., Bolding, G., Sherr, L., & Elford, J. (2006). Sex and the Internet: Gay men, risk reduction and serostatus. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 8(2), 161-174. doi:10.1080/13691050500526126 Rosen, L. D., Cheever, N. A., Cummings, C., & Felt, J. (2008). The impact of emotionality and self-disclosure on online dating versus traditional dating. Computers In Human Behavior, 24(5), 2124-2157. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2007.10.003 Toma, C. L., & Hancock, J. T. (2012). What lies beneath: The linguistic traces of deception in online dating profiles. Journal Of Communication, 62(1), 78-97. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2011.01619.x
People in society today can find potential sex partners in a heartbeat. In Nancy Jo Sales’ article “Tinder and the Dawn of the ‘Dating Apocalypse,’” she talks about how powerful the Internet and dating applications can be in helping one find potential partners. Jo Sales argues that dating applications and the Internet are not generally used for dating, but they are used for finding instant sex partners that lead to one-night stands. Short-term relationships are increasing due to the Internet and applications and will continue to increase in the future. Scholars have argued that sexual activity has tremendously increased, moving from traditional dating to a new style of dating called hookups. Also, research indicates numerous examples
Online dating has become so popular through the years. It has been a stepping stone for people of all ages in different ways. Most young people use social networking, and most people of older descent uses dating websites like eHarmony where you have to pay to meet that perfect match. Nev, Ernie, and Shauntel were all victims of online dating and as you can see most result came out positive and other times it came out negative. Ernie has was one who seen his cup both half full and half empty. The show Catfish shows the many people get lied to through online dating and gives a really bad name. Statistics show that people on online dating site lie about their age, height, and weight to make there self-look more appealing to others. Online dating can be used for good or for evil but it all depends on who’s sitting behind the computer screen.
DeVito wrote, “Some dating websites-eharmony.com and perfect match.com are perhaps the most notable-have members complete extensive scientific questionnaires about their preferences and personalities which helps further in successfully matchmaking people” (308). It’s unbelievable to see how dating has changed so much in such a short period of time. Back in the 21st century people tended to meet each other through friends, parties, or at work. There was no such things as internet dating or social media, just some good old fashioned one on one meetings. Also back in the 21st century people had to go through a process in order to date someone. Furthermore In order to get the approval to date some people had to prove himself before entering her house. Since online dating became a hit these days, a young man doesn’t have to go through an eternity of suffering or tension of the girl’s father’s eyes looking at him trying to find a fault in
Few people will argue that online dating has become the preferred method to find dates, relationships, and possible soul-mates. eHarmony frequently advertises with the statistics that in one year they had 33, 000 people get married after meeting in its networking site. There are statistics out that predict that more than 100,000 people get married each year after meeting in a dating network. (Tracey, 2005) With statists like these, one can see why there would be so much high pressure to win curious newcomers. There are marketing tools and techniques used to win them over. These online dating sites have done many things correct.
In “A Million First Dates” (The Atlantic, Jan/Feb 2013), Dan Slater argues commiting to a stable relationship is negatively influenced by online dating because of a decline in commitment in couples. Essentially, the more options a person is given to find the perfect person in a short amount of time, the less they are inclined to stay in a relationship. For example, Slater’s case study subject, Jacob, a man with a difficult time meeting women and genuinely falling in love. After easily finding a dream woman on a dating website he found it easier to find someone else once their relationship ended. Hence, online dating made it easier for him (and possibly other users) to change views on a long or lifetime monogamous relationship. Additionally,
With social networking services being more and more popular, it is universal to have online dating. According to a report, “over 40 million Americans have given online dating a try, and over a third of the American couples married between 2005 and 2012 met online.” This phenomenon causes us to think deeply about whether online dating is advisable or not. Because of the rapid development of technology and economy, many stressed people are eagerly seeking confidence and self-identity through the internet. Therefore, online dating has become a new and acceptable method of loving subconsciously. However, it should never replace meeting a person in real life because it may be spurious, illusory and fragile.
Think about how your grandparents met; was it at a job they both worked at? Then think how your parents met, through their friend group? Now, how do you plan to meet your soulmate? Over the past ten years, dating has done a complete 360-degree turn. A study done on Americans by the Pew Research Center found, “66% of online daters have gone on a date with someone they met through a dating site or app, and 23% of online daters say they have met a spouse or long term relationship through these sites (Smith and Duggan).” From a boy asking a girl’s parents permission to date their daughter, to today when people resort to dating apps and websites like, Okcupid or Tinder.
In the United States, unattached men and women in their 20s and 30s are experiencing an unprecedented explosion of possibilities when meeting other singles. While well-established means still exist, such as meeting companions through family, friends, church, at work, and while attending college there is a growing number of people meeting their partners online. Convenience coupled with a seemingly endless supply of dating options is killing romance by lowering expectations and evolving what previous generations have thought of love.
The ancient ritual of courtship allowed both genders to seek partnership, but as social norms changed dating became more common among young people. Romantic engagements have almost always been a part of society, but they have also been a source of sorrow. Some want to blame dating sites for the actions of human beings, but even with that factor removed people would still exhibit unethical behavior. The chances of finding a stable partner depend on the general intentions of the population, but society has developed more efficient ways of finding a partner whom does want to settle down. While less romantic than meeting in a bookstore or university, people resort to online dating not only for convenience but for accuracy/ efficiency. Necessary
There is no doubt that recent technological advancements have changed the way humans interact with one another in the 21st century. Through email, text messages, and social networking sites, we are able to get in touch with people all over the world in a much faster and more efficient manner than in previous years. Since modern technology has become such an integral part of our everyday lives, it is certainly not uncommon for two people to meet and connect with each other via the Internet. Members of this relatively new subculture of online daters invest a great deal of time and energy into their romantic affairs. In fact, according to Robert Epstein’s “The Truth About Online Dating,” advertising materials from the largest online dating services suggest that over 50 million Americans are currently using such services, and that they are wholly satisfied with the results (34). Unfortunately, however, the controversial subject of online relationships in modern society is frequently misrepresented by the media. Many films and television shows exaggerate the risks associated with online dating, choosing to highlight extreme examples of lies and deception for the sake of maintaining their dramatic quality. Other forms of media tend to romanticize online dating, consequently giving Internet users unrealistic expectations for their own relationships. Whether it depicts the frightening or idealized side of online dating, popular culture makes a conscious effort to feature sensationalized stories in order to appeal to a target audience that relies solely on entertainment. As a result, the truth about Internet dating is not adequately conveyed, which ultimately results in the public’s distorted image of such online practices.
Online dating offers chances to people who feel more comfortable behind a screen rather than getting so nervous in front of a person that they are unable to speak. It allows them to interact with someone whom they would be uneasy to speak with in real life. Moreover, in traditional dating first impressions truly matter while online, people have chosen the best for their dating profiles. “People were ready to admit that going on actual "dates" was full of pressure and not very enjoyable. Traditional dating, they pointed out, encouraged an overly formal, inauthentic vibe that ultimately hindered instead of helped their efforts to make romantic connections” (Massa). Many do feel shy to ask the person they are interested in on an official date as they are not actually sure what the other person feels and needs more than the opinion of friends to take a step while asking someone online relieves that stress as the possibility of seeing that person in real life is low along with it messing with the asker’s personal life if it is a
From a report of Dating Safety and Victimization in Traditional and Online Relationship, Koeppel, Smith and Bouffard concluded that with the use of Internet helps increasing online dating and they use it to broaden their social circles and find their partner. People are more willing to accept online dating but their attitude towards online dating is still negative because of the negative impacts (6).
The human need for affiliation creates the challenges and rewards of finding acquaintances, forming close friendships, as well as intimate relationships. Through technological advances cyberspace, or the internet, has become a place of multiple opportunities for people to be able to fulfill that need for affiliation. Websites, chat rooms, and online communities are just some examples of virtual platforms for people to seek others, come together, and find that special someone. These opportunities can result in positive outcomes allowing people to achieve what or whom they were seeking, but they can also result in harm to themselves and others, resulting with damaging consequences. Cyberspace does not come with a warning label. People who use the internet as a means to seek relationships are at risk of being exposed to positive as well as negative results. Being made aware of some of those risks and dangers, and realizing that forming relationships on the internet is not all fun and games, may be ways to help promote a positive future for cyberspace as a place to form successful relationships.
The writer started the article by showing her own opinion clearly about the long distance relationships through the dating websites “I have doubts about a long-distance relationship that started through a dating site. ”[3]. Then she started to give an example of a relationship via the Internet.... ... middle of paper ... ...
In the twenty-first century, we use the internet for almost everything that we do. We use search engines such as Bing or Google to find information. Websites like Netflix and Hulu allow us to watch shows and movies without an expensive cable or satellite subscription. Social networks provide a new way to communicate with friends and family. Entire companies are run through the internet. With gas prices rising every day, it has also become increasingly popular to see a lot of jobs turn to telecommuting. It’s only natural that as other aspects of our lives conform to the internet, that online dating should also begin to be more prevalent in how we form new romantic relationships. Online dating is the new normal, and this is more evident now than ever.