Online Dating and Relationships for Internet †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theOnline Dating and Relationships for Internet. Answer: Introduction Although online dating has provides a platform to users to find their compatible match and engage in a long term relationships, it has attracted some serious cyber-crimes and online frauds which has to be kept in mind before starting an online dating relationship. Online dating is a very popular concept in todays age of technology. The technology has entered into every aspect of our lives, the reason being convenience and time. The Internet being the most valuable gift of technology has exposed individuals to a variety of choices when it comes to meeting and interacting with new people without restricting to a geographical area. Interacting with people online and engaging in a romantic relationship with them is known as online dating. Unlike the conventional face to face dating, this gives an opportunity to potential singles to find dates whenever they want. There is a common platform usually a dating site where individuals choose and select their partner based on their preferences with a common goal of developing and maintaining a personal and romantic relationship. To use the services of such dating sites, the users have to create their profile which includes their picture, brief information consist of matching preferences. Match.com is a very popular dating site which allows individual to connect and date online users based on common set of preferences. Online dating in a fast paced life has enabled single individuals to socialize and meet with like-minded individuals. This has contributed greatly in the overwhelming success of online dating (Rosenfeld Thomas, 2012). Online dating has provided an opportunity to start a serious real world relationship and find a committed and loving partner. But the grass is not always greener on the side. Apart from having advantages, there are many drawbacks too associated with online dating. The Advantages of Online Dating: Online Dating sites give an opportunity to individuals to access variety of date profiles irrespective of the cultural or geographical restrictions. In real life the opportunity to meet the individual who will have the similar topics of interest like yours is very difficult because the search is limited to a close circle, clubs or any other accessible public places. Another reason for popularity of online dating is that it saves a lot of time. There are people who do not get an opportunity to meet someone who interest them due to their busy schedule. But online dating gives them a benefit of convenience to login anytime, anywhere and find someone who interest them (Nicholson, 2014). It also gives confidence to someone who is not able to interact in the real world. Also, these dating sites gives an insight into the lives of the potential dates and allow the user to select and reject individuals by maintaining anonymity without hurting them emotionally. These dating services also increase the chance of finding a future spouse. When an individual selects from the wide ranges of applicants with similar mindsets and interests, there are chances of compatibility with another increases. If the selected user is compatible then the scene progresses from online chatting ,to telephonic conversation and then end up meeting personally. If things worked out in favor of both, then there are chances of future commitment else one can always find the next option (Hitsch, Hortacsu Ariely, 2010). Cost saving is another added advantage to the online dating. The real time date can be an expensive one and it may not prove to be a start of a successful romantic relationship but online dating gives an individual many chances of selecting the right one before a real encounter. Online dating sites also give the benefit of customizing individuals search. It involves selecting the dating partner based on ones choice of interest and preferences. Not only this it also gives the clear idea about the intentions of other individual without assuming what they want casual dating or a long term relationship. The Disadvantages of Online Dating: As discusses above, online dating sites provides an unlimited access to potential dates profile. This means people find hard to commit to a single person when they have variety of other options available at fingertip. People see this as a casual dating or a hook up opportunity rather than finding a serious love. Online dating builds a lot of unrealistic expectations. People over the digital platform portray themselves according to their own choices. Airbrushing pictures, exaggerating about the personal information is seen as an easy medium to impress the potential date irrespective of the reality (Hancock, Toma Ellison, 2007). When one is involved in online dating there are chances that they have a long distance relationship surviving on the technology. You cannot actually know about the person living or chatting on the other side and they may not be reliable partners as they represent themselves on internet (Adams, 2015). Safety is the major drawback in online dating services. People often join these sites with an expectation to find a romantic relationship but end up being harassed mentally and emotionally. There are a lot of cases where two people came close and sometimes exchanged intimate photos which got leaked over internet. The harassment faced online can lead to consequences such as suicide. Another problem with online dating is internet connectivity; there are some areas which are still not technologically advanced which means it is difficult to avail the benefits of dating services in such areas. Also, even if someone finds their date in some other country or any far distance may create distance issues which may prove to be a hindrance in maintaining a long term relationship. Online dating also gives an implied authority to the potential dates to access the personal information shared during chatting or through the personal profile which includes pictures and other personal information, the information can be stored easily and may be used against the owner of that information. The most common type of activity is cyber bullying. There are people who are only involved in online dating to satisfy their sexual needs and they engage in conversation with individuals and deceive them by misrepresenting about their identity and leave them once there purpose if fulfilled. Creating a false profile is an easy way to trap innocent people who want to involve in a serious relationship but end up being exploited and harassed sexually (Smith Duggan, 2013). References Adams, R., 2015, 7 Drawbacks of Online Dating, According To Science, Accessed from https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/online-dating-science_n_7745108 on 19 May 2017. Hancock, T.J., Toma, C. Ellison, N., 2007, The Truth about Lying in Online Dating Profiles, Accessed from https://collablab.northwestern.edu/CollabolabDistro/nucmc/p449-hancock.pdf on 19 May 2017. Hitsch, G., Horatacsu, A., Ariely, D., 2010, Matching and Sorting in Online Dating, American Economic Review, Accessed from https://home.uchicago.edu/~ghitsch/Hitsch-Research/Guenter_Hitsch_files/Online-Matching-Sorting.pdf on 19 May 2017. Nicholson, J., 2014, Pros and Cons of Online Dating, Accessed from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-attraction-doctor/201404/pros-and-cons-online-dating on 19 May 2017. Rosenfeld, J.M., Thomas, J.R., 2012, Searching for a Mate: The Rise of the Internet as a Social Intermediary, Accessed from https://web.stanford.edu/~mrosenfe/Rosenfeld_How_Couples_Meet_Working_Paper.pdf on 19 May 2017. Smith, A., Duggan, M., 2013, Online Dating Relationships, Accessed from https://www.pewinternet.org/files/old-media/Files/Reports/2013/PIP_Online%20Dating%202013.pdf on 19 May 2017.