Online Dating Research

Words: 1695
Pages: 7

Introduction

The internet is unquestionably part of our everyday lives, it plays an integral part in society, the way we conduct business and education, personally and recreationally. Therefore, it is no surprise that online dating has not only become the norm but a fast growing social network trend. It allows individuals from all walks of life to connect in a virtual community with a common interest. Popular websites such as eHarmony and RSVP.com serve the community needs in the pursuit of romance, but through employing particular strategies it is necessary for online dating participants to give consideration to self-disclosure, validity and anonymity of potential suitors. Online dating opens the door to self-marketing and consumerism on
…show more content…
Establishing personal profiles on dating websites allows users to shape their identity in a virtual community using CMC. Said (2005) defines community as “a group of people having a common interest”. Geographical position is irrelevant when using CMC, referring to disembedding. Therefore, online dating empowers participants to connect with potential suitors from anywhere in the world based on interests and matching procedures offered by dating websites (Slater, 2002). Research indicates that people tend to self-disclose more intensely and express themselves more openly online, which refers to the online disinhibition effect (Suler, 2004). However, whilst this can be a salutary for online daters because it provides an avenue to reveal one’s true self, it can also be unscrupulous. Users may be deceitful, harsh and hostile. Psychological barriers are weakened, and Sular (2004) explains the elements that cause online disinhibition are dissociative anonymity, invisibility, asynchronicity, solipsistic introjection, dissociative imagination, and minimization of authority. Whilst RSVP.com and eHarmony provide users with safe tips, security advice, dating advice and articles associated with online dating, those individuals genuinely seeking a relationship need to think about the identity being formed online and authenticity compared in offline