Risks Related to Dating Apps
In everything we do, everyday, there are some risks involved. From driving into work, to playing the lottery, to eating lunch at a new restaurant, there is always the potential for something to happen that will negatively affect our lives, long-term or short-term. Dating is no different. There has always been certain risks that come from dating but now with the addition of dating apps some of these risks are increased and some have been added to the list altogether. These risks include, deceit, sexual risks, emotional and physical risks, and meeting dangerous people (Couch et al. 2011 p. 697).
Joffe’s “not me -- other” model was used in this research to explain how people react to the potential risks associated with online dating (Couch et al. 2011 p. 699). This model uses the idea that others are to blame for the risk, the “badness” is associated with the other, whereas me or my group is associated with the “good” (Couch et al. 2011p. 699). This is concurrent with the optimism bias theory. The idea that people understand bad things can happen but believing these bad things won’t happen to them.
Research found that concerns of deceit specifically come up in two main areas related to online dating; lack of face to face contact and manipulation of photos or details about themselves (Couch et al. 2011 p. 702). Many things learned about a person and one’s personality comes from nonverbal cues. The way their body moves during a conversation can clue someone into how a person really feels about the conversation, with dating apps this opportunity is taken away. The delayed nature of communicating in online dating settings allows there to be a greater opportunity for deceit to occur between two people. Also along with the lack of face to face connection means the only way to see the person is through photographs. A person can easily lie about what they look like through photos, using filters or photoshop to make themselves appear more attractive or in extreme cases using someone else’s photo entirely.
Sexual risks appear in any form of dating but with the addition of dating apps it has recently become a greater concern. The lack of commitment, traditionally associated with dating apps, increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and the uncertainty of who you are taking to can lead to risks including violent and dangerous sexual encounters (Couch et. al 2011 p. 708). Dating apps, especially Tinder and ones similar, work with the idea that you have many partners and a quick turn around time between each one. The more sexual partners you have the greater likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted diseases. People felt that they could judge a person’s sexual history based off of appearance, meaning if people felt the person looked clean they were more likely to participate in unprotected sex. Research found, however, it is not always reliable enough to base sexual history off of appearance. Data from BBC News found that both syphilis and gonorrhoea cases increased in 2014. Dating apps also present the risk of violent or dangerous sexual acts because you don’t know the person that well. Research found that some feared being put into a situation where there was unwanted or nonconsensual behavior when meeting someone through an online or dating app setting (Couch et. al 2011 p. 706-707).
Researchers found people had specific concerns about the emotional and psychical risks of dating apps and finding partners in an online setting. Rejection, being disappointed and being judged for using online resources to find a mate were the emotional risks associated with dating apps and online dating, whereas violence from those met online was a concern of psychical risk associated with online dating (Couch et. al 2011 p. 706). It was found that being rejected from a potential mate was a major concern. Rejection can lead to loss of face and lowered self-esteem resulting in emotional distress on the recipient of the rejection. Disappointment is also connected to emotional distress resulting from online dating. It was noted that those actively seeking a mate online feared the possibility of creating a connection with someone and being disappointed when finally meeting in person. The fear of being judged for finding a mate online also leads emotional distress. Although it is becoming more common today to use online resources to find a romantic partner there is still often a stigma associated with using dating apps and online sites to find a partner.
Online dating allows for only specific information to be shared and for information to be more easily manipulated leading some to fear the possibility of emotional hurt. Physical risks were rooted in the potential of someone you meet online acting violent towards you (Couch et. al 2013 p. 708). The possibility of animinity online leads some to fear violence as a risk of online dating. There is a chance who you are talking to online is not who you are going to meet in person. Researchers found that this fear was present in both men and women and many have already encountered situations where violence in a date setting occurred when the relationship began online (Couch et. al 2013 p. 711).
Other aspects of risks include meeting dangerous people. Research found that in certain cases there were fears of meeting someone who seeks out additional information about you that you did not readily provide. One incident discussed involved a man tracking a woman’s IP address to find her house and showed up without notice (Couch et. al 2013 p. 706). Other risks included being scammed by a potential online partner. People feared the possibility of being conned out of money, especially when talking to someone overseas.
Many risks of online dating and the use of dating apps can also be found in other aspects of life and in face to face dating, however many are heightened due to the increased ability to be anonymous or to alter facts about one’s life online.
Joffe’s “not me -- other” model was used in this research to explain how people react to the potential risks associated with online dating (Couch et al. 2011 p. 699). This model uses the idea that others are to blame for the risk, the “badness” is associated with the other, whereas me or my group is associated with the “good” (Couch et al. 2011p. 699). This is concurrent with the optimism bias theory. The idea that people understand bad things can happen but believing these bad things won’t happen to them.
Research found that concerns of deceit specifically come up in two main areas related to online dating; lack of face to face contact and manipulation of photos or details about themselves (Couch et al. 2011 p. 702). Many things learned about a person and one’s personality comes from nonverbal cues. The way their body moves during a conversation can clue someone into how a person really feels about the conversation, with dating apps this opportunity is taken away. The delayed nature of communicating in online dating settings allows there to be a greater opportunity for deceit to occur between two people. Also along with the lack of face to face connection means the only way to see the person is through photographs. A person can easily lie about what they look like through photos, using filters or photoshop to make themselves appear more attractive or in extreme cases using someone else’s photo entirely.
Sexual risks appear in any form of dating but with the addition of dating apps it has recently become a greater concern. The lack of commitment, traditionally associated with dating apps, increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and the uncertainty of who you are taking to can lead to risks including violent and dangerous sexual encounters (Couch et. al 2011 p. 708). Dating apps, especially Tinder and ones similar, work with the idea that you have many partners and a quick turn around time between each one. The more sexual partners you have the greater likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted diseases. People felt that they could judge a person’s sexual history based off of appearance, meaning if people felt the person looked clean they were more likely to participate in unprotected sex. Research found, however, it is not always reliable enough to base sexual history off of appearance. Data from BBC News found that both syphilis and gonorrhoea cases increased in 2014. Dating apps also present the risk of violent or dangerous sexual acts because you don’t know the person that well. Research found that some feared being put into a situation where there was unwanted or nonconsensual behavior when meeting someone through an online or dating app setting (Couch et. al 2011 p. 706-707).
Researchers found people had specific concerns about the emotional and psychical risks of dating apps and finding partners in an online setting. Rejection, being disappointed and being judged for using online resources to find a mate were the emotional risks associated with dating apps and online dating, whereas violence from those met online was a concern of psychical risk associated with online dating (Couch et. al 2011 p. 706). It was found that being rejected from a potential mate was a major concern. Rejection can lead to loss of face and lowered self-esteem resulting in emotional distress on the recipient of the rejection. Disappointment is also connected to emotional distress resulting from online dating. It was noted that those actively seeking a mate online feared the possibility of creating a connection with someone and being disappointed when finally meeting in person. The fear of being judged for finding a mate online also leads emotional distress. Although it is becoming more common today to use online resources to find a romantic partner there is still often a stigma associated with using dating apps and online sites to find a partner.
Online dating allows for only specific information to be shared and for information to be more easily manipulated leading some to fear the possibility of emotional hurt. Physical risks were rooted in the potential of someone you meet online acting violent towards you (Couch et. al 2013 p. 708). The possibility of animinity online leads some to fear violence as a risk of online dating. There is a chance who you are talking to online is not who you are going to meet in person. Researchers found that this fear was present in both men and women and many have already encountered situations where violence in a date setting occurred when the relationship began online (Couch et. al 2013 p. 711).
Other aspects of risks include meeting dangerous people. Research found that in certain cases there were fears of meeting someone who seeks out additional information about you that you did not readily provide. One incident discussed involved a man tracking a woman’s IP address to find her house and showed up without notice (Couch et. al 2013 p. 706). Other risks included being scammed by a potential online partner. People feared the possibility of being conned out of money, especially when talking to someone overseas.
Many risks of online dating and the use of dating apps can also be found in other aspects of life and in face to face dating, however many are heightened due to the increased ability to be anonymous or to alter facts about one’s life online.