Dangers of Online Dating The internet has come a very long way over the years. It is much easier to communicate with people whether they are on the other side of the world, or even if you're right next to each other. Since communicating is easily accessible online, people use this for dating purposes. Online dating is a very popular method people use to meet a new person that could eventually be their significant other. It is shown that 52.4% of males use dating websites and 47.6% of females use them. In the last year, 17% of these people have gotten married to someone they met on an online dating site (Statistic Brain). There are many pros of online dating but, there are also many cons such as false website information, catfishes, and criminals …show more content…
Many of these commercials give false information of the website for better promotion which is illegal (FMA). For example, in the Plenty of Fish commercial, they mention that the dating site is a "100% Free Online Dating Service for singles" which is not true. Although, they have an upgraded membership which is paid for (Plenty of Fish), therefore not making the website 100% free. In these commercials they also have couples that look very happy together for example in the Tinder commercial. However, the question is, are they really happy to be together or are they just doing it for the money? When people see all these "successful" relationships these commercials are promoting, it makes them want to try it out, but what they don't mention is that not everyone is going to get the same …show more content…
Dating online is a very easy way to get catfished without even knowing it. What is a catfish? It is when someone pretends to be someone else using a fake account with false information to lure another person into a relationship which is common on any type of social network (WhatIs). This is very dangerous especially for teens because teens can be very naive or in denial. Most teens like to make a lot of friends online for fun without even knowing the danger in it. On the TV show MTV Catfish there was a girl named Andria who met a guy named David on Facebook; she started talking to him at the age of twelve and they had been in a relationship for ten years, but has never actually met (Navi). She said that every time she brought up meeting in person he would either change the subject or cancel on her so she became suspicious (Navi). Andria says that she threatened to put David on catfish then she received a photo of a woman revealing herself (Navi). There has also been some cases where people find fake profiles of themselves, like Sam McCosker, who had been told that there was a fake account of her on Tinder which is a popular mobile dating app (GladstoneObserver). This goes to show that it is important to be very careful because you never know what people are really up
In the new generation people are more into using social media has a way to interact with others more than ever. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook , and Myspace has become the new norm into networking, making friends, finding possibly a match and making a love connection. These social medias allow people to create profiles in which they can alter their information. This results in many incident where people are not who they said they are. For that reason people become catfish. The MTV show Catfish bring viewers into the world of online- dating and the result it may have. Being catfish can bring a wide variety of attention that can be discuss has to whether or not it can be considered a crime Two theories that that can explain the rise of the catfish phenomenon are the anomie/ strain theory and the labeling theory. The strain theory and the labeling theory can both be used to describe the widespread act of catfishing. Although one provides a better explanation to the act of catfishing someone and a better plan for preventing it.
The advertisements show primarily, young adults who appear not to be in committed relationships. While often they will show a couple which, in the perceived fantasy, seem to share some level of commitment, never will they show any intimate relationship, which has gone beyond that initial spark. The reasons for this are a bit sad. My contention is that the younger generations, to which the ads appeal, have grown up in a time in which divorce rates are high and marriages are often unsatisfying. Many of us have been raised within a home where mom and dad didn’t live a Brady Bunch lifestyle. So, therefore, viewing married couples may carry negative connotations.
A third reason is addiction to attention. They can get this attention by making fake profiles in order to still their crave for attention. Some of them can simply be addicted to making fake profiles and so they master themselves in the art of the catfish. These people often have multiple fake profiles.
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.
...Five percent of Americans who are in a marriage or a committed relationship say they met their significant other online” (2). The reality of how relationships are started is through the traditional methods of meeting people offline. People like to meet others through introductions and referrals because it provides a sense of security. Due to the direction that society is headed, we are seeing more and more technological advances. These new advances are giving people the freedom to meet and integrate with others in the society in a safe fashion. However, we know that technology is not one-hundred percent safe proof. Because technology is not completely safe and is not always accurate individuals must use common sense to determine when a situation is not being used properly. Online dating sites through the technological advances are getting lots of recognition.
In today’s society, dating websites have become a very popular way for people, particularly singles, to meet online and meet their potential mate. Internet dating has become more or less accepted as a means to forming a relationship, and with so many different matchmaking websites, potential partners are being well marketed. The sites promote use by publicizing the idea that anyone can find their perfect mate. However, what people fail to understand is that it’s easier to lie online rather than face to face. “Just as statements can be falsified, so can entire online profiles-….” (McIntosh 230) it opens up opportunities for people to be coerced into sending money, or personal information to someone they met online. In her essay “Digital Deception”
When thinking back on my past experiences in the dating scene, it’s crazy to see how much things have changed over the years. About ten years ago, I would have never thought that online dating would have grown to be as popular as it is today. It was considered a risky and almost taboo thing to do in the beginning. Now it seems that online dating services are just about everywhere. From the bigger dating services providers, such as E-Harmony and Zoosk, to the smaller services such as online personal classifieds, social media, and phone apps, it’s easier than ever to find and meet people who are interested in dating. I have dated online myself, even in the beginning stages of the online dating scene, and have had both good and bad experiences.
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.
What is catfish? Catfish is someone pretending to be someone they are not by using social media like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to create false identities to pursue a relationship. Why do people pretend to be someone they are not? We found out that many people pretend to be someone else because they can be insecure about themselves or revenge on their ex-lovers, and just to want to be someone else because they are bored with their lives. As we investigated through this research, we had to come up with survey questions to see the difference between females and male. We found out that on each question we did the percentage showed that about the equal risk of getting catfished because they are using social almost half the day.
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.
And because of the influence of movies and media, it pressurizes people into subconsciously thinking that their date with that special someone should be extraordinary which usually ends up being rather expensive. While the same cannot be said about online dating as it is cost efficient and allows people to expand their horizons by not limiting themselves to the same circle of people. However, people are more likely to imagine their future with someone in traditional dating based on their personality, habits, and more, while the same cannot be said about online dating. But if done right, online dating can help a person meet other people in the real world who they have much in common with. With the help of technology, they can be living on the opposite sides of the world and still get to know each other well, giving them a chance to delay commitment until they are
This paper will provide evidence and use of online dating, and show the effects on psychological, safety and social aspects.
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.
Dating really changed in the few last years and meeting people online became not uncommon or just for young people only. But everyone now can use it to find their dates and meet new people.
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.