Online Dating

From SI410
Revision as of 10:11, 15 December 2011 by Thomarol (Talk | contribs) (Ethical implications)

Jump to: navigation, search

Online dating is the "use of websites that provide a database of potential partners--typically in close geographical proximity--that one can browse and contact, generally for a fee." [1] Popular examples of online dating websites include Match.com, eHarmony.com, okCupid.com, and plentyoffish.com. Online dating websites allow individuals, couples and group communicate over the Internet to find specific types of relationships. The objective of these sites are to create personal, romantic or sexual relationships. This matchmaking is based on personal information, such as age, gender, location, interests and hobbies. Some sites allow for picture posting and offer message boards, video messaging and chat rooms.

The online dating industry is currently experiencing strong growth, making it one of the most profitable Internet businesses. Online dating sites are characterized by detailed user profiles and recommender systems. (Back to index)

OkCupid's iPhone user interface

Popular Use

Despite the economic recession, online dating websites have reported increased traffic to their sites that may be due to the unemployed having more time on their hands. Likewise, online dating is an inexpensive alternative in meeting people for relationships, contributing to its popularity. It has been found that one in five relationships now originate online and three in five gay couples met online [2].

Relationships formed through online dating sites do not always constitute a romantic one, and if so, do not always progress solely through virtual processes. It is found that many users choose to arrange a physical encounter rather quickly instead of taking the time to get to know their "partner" exclusively online. Most users meet physically in order to get to know each other better, thus altering the web service as only a tool for facilitating the initial meeting.[3]

The stigma of utilizing online dating services has greatly diminished as a result of the ubiquity of social networking sites and the commonality of sharing information and interacting with others online. Furthermore, many users of online dating sites have had prior experience with social networking sites.

Niche online dating sites have become popular, some focusing on specific demographics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, and age. With the new addition of sites like ChristianMatch.com or JustHookUp.com, people are able to find people with similar interests and traits. Prior to online dating, singles were forced to seek out others in places they frequent, such as churches, bars, or nightclubs. However, the invention of these websites have allowed people an easy way to find similar others. People have begun to eliminate people from the dating pool because they do not subscribe to these niche websites. Baby boomers have increasingly turned to online dating with people fifty-five and older visiting American dating sites more than other age groups.

Profiles

Users interact with each other through the use of profiles. Users tend to make their profiles more favorable to others, the most common exaggerations being in appearance, marital status, and career.

There is a complex interaction when a user builds a profile. Two personalities, the "true self" or the "traits or characteristics individuals possess and would like to but are not usually able to express" and the "actual self" or "traits or characteristics that individuals possess and express in social settings," are utilized. Users tend to emphasize the "true self" than the "actual self," because the user can display the favorable qualities of one's self that are not apparent in physical social situations.

The interactions within an online dating site are "highly reflexive processes" in which users must "contend with a perpetual cycle of self-disclosure opportunities," such as revealing personal data and feelings. Many users are hesitant about the reality of profiles and the anonymous nature of the Internet, participating in the cycle of self-disclosure to reduce skepticism in potential partners. The building of trust through the process of sharing information mimics the progression of trust in relationships formed offline.

The process of creating a profile is a continuous one. Many users frequently edit their profiles to appear more attractive to other users. In certain cases, users even tailor their profile information to target specific users.

Users of online dating sites tend to be more discriminatory toward other users, emphasizing attractiveness in profile pictures more often online than in offline environments. This competition amongst users leads to exaggeration of physical appearance as many believe that other users are more likely to be directed toward attractive profiles.

Despite the fact that users admit that their profiles contain deceptive information, users were more critical of misleading profiles.

Recommender systems

Many online dating sites offer a recommender system which pairs couples based on their profile information. The recommender system matches individuals with several shared interests based on the assumption that shared interests lead to a successful relationship. While these types of recommendations are prevalent in many websites, not only online dating sites, some tend to be more accurate than others.

Ethical implications

In 2010, Carole Markin sued Match.com, an online dating site, for failing to perform background checks on its users. On a date arranged through the site, she was sexually assaulted by a registered sex offender, Alan Paul Wurtzel. [4] The court case brought up issues of relationships facilitated through online interactions, specifically about the anonymity and deceitful techniques of users. Recently, sex-traffickers have entered the online dating world- sending handsome "baiters" to lure women on dates, abducting them into the sex-traffic ring. This is especially common on less reputable- usually free sites, that attract young, lower-class women and teenager girls. [5]

Other ethical implications include cheating and infidelity through online dating sites. The Internet has become the most common setting for infidelity today. Many married men and women, or men and women in committed relationships, find sexual thrills in meeting people online, looking to fill their needs that aren't being met in their current relationships. The online dating environment makes infidelity easier.

Various critics, including modern Luddites, have focused on online dating sites as evidence of the deteriorating morals of human relationships caused by technology. Some arguments include that online dating sites seek to commodify human intimacy, and reduce the sanctity of love to something that can be advertised, bought, and found through a search engine. [1]

The free dating sites set up the possibility for pedophile breeding grounds, where anyone can sign up for free (although there are age requirements, only a fake year of birth need be submitted for access). Some users have taken it upon themselves to set up fake childrens' accounts and "troll the pedos," as Youtube user BlueGenitalWarts did. He would pose as an underage girl and set up times to meet men from plentyoffish.com and confront these men dressed as Batman (often accompanied by Flash) and a video camera. His films have since been removed from Youtube.

Information transparency is an ethical issue that exists in online dating that is irrelevant in an offline environment. People will Google snippets of information garnered from the online dating sites in order to gain more (and especially truthful) information on potential suitors.

LGBTQ Discrimination

Industry leader eHarmony has been at the center of an extended legal battle over inclusion of non-heterosexuals in their online dating website. Initially they responded to the legal mandate that they stop discriminating against the LGBTQ community by creating a separate website for their use called CompatibleParnets[6], they were further ordered to merge the two websites in early 2010[7].

Sugar Daddy Websites

There has a been a deviation in the standard online dating phenomenon with the creation of such websites as Seeking Arrangements which connect older men (called Sugar Daddies) with younger women (called Sugar Babies). The goal of such website is to facilitate relationships among individuals that result in a trade of sexual favors for a large sum of money, typically used to pay off college debt [8]. This type of "online dating" website is ethically problematic due to the fact that these kinds of sites exploit young women and men who have fallen on hard times, a common occurrence given the economic recession that began in 2008 in the United States.

Instances of Exploitation and Abuse

Recently, there have been instances where users have abused the dating system. On Match.com, Jessica Sporty signed up for dates in order to pay for her meals. By going on dates, Sporty could maintain her current extravagant lifestyle while not becoming bankrupt. Sporty ended up earning $1,200 in meals alone. In the end, she stopped going on dates. [9] Sporty uses the website to her advantage so she can not go into debt. Yet, she also misuses the website to receive money back. In cases like this, ethical issues are raised: is it ethical for Sporty to find a way to not go into debt? But is it unethical for Sporty to abuse a dating system in order to do so? These are some of the ethical dilemmas posed in this incident.

Ashley Madison

Ashley Madison is an online dating site that is geared towards those that are already in a relationship. Ashley Madison says to have over 10 million members, with roughly 700,000 visitors a month. [10] It has attempted to purchase large advertisements during the super bowl and popular public transportation vehicles, but has been denied every time. The founder Noel Biderman claims that the sites backbone is base off of those couples who are in a tough financial position and cannot afford to get a divorce.[11] He also suggested that because many members are in sexless marriages but don't actually want to leave their spouses, the company "preserves more marriages than we break up."[12]

See Also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sautter, 2010, p. 555
  2. http://www.socialnomics.net/2011/01/21/real-estate-social-media-infographic/
  3. Whitty, 2008, p. 1715
  4. Williams, 2011, Los Angeles Times, "Match.com agrees to screen for sex offenders to settle lawsuit"
  5. Kloer, 2010, change.org, From Online Romance to Real Life Slavery http://news.change.org/stories/from-online-romance-to-real-life-slavery
  6. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/31/business/fi-eharmony31
  7. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/28/eharmony-forced-to-merge-_n_440853.html
  8. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/29/seeking-arrangement-college-students_n_913373.html?page=2
  9. http://jezebel.com/5863621/woman-lets-matchcom-dates-pay-for-all-of-her-dinners
  10. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-daum10-2009jan10,0,7649415.column
  11. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-daum10-2009jan10,0,7649415.column
  12. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-daum10-2009jan10,0,7649415.column