Online Dating and its Dangers

Marylu German
Aug 26, 2017 · 2 min read

Online dating has grown exponentially over the past few years. Apps and websites like Tinder, Grindr, OkCupid, Zooks, eHarmony promote the idea that you can find the one, a casual date, or a hookup. Although there are apps and websites specifically tailored for dating, anyone can establish a connection online through various platforms. Some people meet on Facebook, Twitter, or World of Warcraft — any online platform you can think of where people can communicate and interact with one another.

The idea of finding someone special can seem like fun, and it is, but there are things people should watch out for if they are considering diving into the online dating pool. It is easy for people to forget that although they may be interested in online dating to establish a connection with someone else that does not mean everyone will have the same intention. Here are some personal tips I have gathered from friends and thought of myself:

How to identify a “catfish”:

  • If the person never shows you their face or does not want to via skype, facetime, etc.
  • The person can never meet up with you or stands you up
  • Do not want to speak to you via phone call

Please, Oh please, try to avoid the catfish unless your goal is to end up on MTV’s show Catfish.

Clip from Catfish TV Show on MTV

How to stay safe while dating online:

  • Always meet with the person in a public area
  • Have the date in a public area as well
  • Make sure someone close to you knows who you are with
  • If the person makes you feel uncomfortable ask someone for help

Online dating should be fun for the user, not every date will go great or as planned and not everyone will make the connection they were hoping for, but that does not mean that every experience will turn out that way.

Here is another video with a few more online dating tips that will hopefully help people out.

MCS 164 U17

Digital Media and Participatory Citizenship provides a critical analysis of new media environments. Explores options of operating as producers of culture. Includes design & evaluation of impact of an innovative intervention for circulation in evolving digital media environments.

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