Heterosexual individuals are more likely to find a partner through online dating sites than through traditional social networks such as friends and family. This is according to recent research by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which also showed that there is less of a social stigma attached to online meetings these days, and more and more people are becoming comfortable using the new dating technologies (Rosenfeld et al. 17753-17758).
One of the main similarities between online and offline meetings is that both may lead to in-person interactions, eventually making the encounters the same. For instance, a couple who meets online will schedule a physical meeting once they have developed trust (Yeo and Fung 1-6). Another similarity is that consistent communication is required in both scenarios for a bond to develop (Yau 339-355). It is a known fact that relationship problems often arise when there is poor communication between involved parties (Overall et al. 1-5). Thus, whether people meet online or offline, they must maintain communication to develop a good rapport.
The sensation of human presence is the main difference between online and offline meetings. Meeting a person, in reality, enables individuals to interact with one another more freely (Lindgren 67-85). It immediately removes widespread concerns with online meetings, such as a lack of trust, since both parties are unsure whether the person behind the screen is real or fake. In other words, an online meeting eliminates any human aspect guarantees, such as trust, safety, and the good experience often connected with a first encounter (Botsman 17). It is also worth mentioning that online meetings can introduce participants to persons they would possibly have no chance of meeting in real life. A man from China can meet a woman from Jamaica by registering on a dating website and selecting individuals who match his preferences. According to Parker, this is impossible with physical meetings because people often meet through friends or family members or at special functions (21).
Accordingly, the Internet makes meeting new people easier, irrespective of their location (Akram and Kumar 351-354). In other words, online meetings expand socialization dynamics, which traditionally have been limited by geographical boundaries. Additionally, unlike physical meetings, online meetings can be considered more convenient than offline meetings (Bursztynsky). For instance, a person looking for a partner on a dating website does not need to rely on word of mouth from others to determine if they are a match. Instead, they can look at their profile information, including photographs and bio details, and decide whether to pick them or not in the comfort of their homes (Ward 1644-1659).
Given that the two meeting forms lead to nearly the same outcome, it is important to explore the fundamental reasons that make meeting people online preferable to meeting people offline. Particularly, this comparison is essential in light of rising concerns that social media addiction adversely affects interpersonal relations through interference, peer pressure, and less quality time spent with friends and family (Christensen 7).
The comparison will highlight key aspects of the online and physical world of socialization, which will be insightful for psychologists, sociologists, and policymakers. Potentially, it will also provide answers to whether the internet needs to be highly regulated by governments in the wake of its pervasive impacts (Flew 24-29). Irrespective of the outcomes, it is arguable that an online meeting is progressively replacing physical meetings since the former offers individuals many alternatives to pick from that result in the absence of exclusivity; therefore, they are not constrained to interacting with a specific group of people when there are thousands of options.
Works Cited
Akram, Waseem, and Rekesh Kumar. “A study on positive and negative effects of social media on society.” International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering 5.10 (2017): 351-354.
Botsman, Rachel. Who can you trust? How technology brought us together–and why it could drive us apart. Penguin UK, 2017.
Bursztynsky, Jessica. “Dating Apps Are Creating Unique New Experiences to Get People to Meet in Person.” CNBC. 2022. Web.
Christensen, Spencer Palmer. Social media use and its impact on relationships and emotions. Brigham Young University, 2018.
Flew, Terry. “Platforms on trial.” Intermedia, vol. 46, no. 2, 2018, pp. 24-29.
Lindgren, Simon. Digital media and society. Sage, 2021.
Overall, Nickola et al. “What type of communication during conflict is beneficial for intimate relationships?” Current opinion in psychology, vol. 13, 2017, pp. 1-5.
Parker, Priya. The art of gathering: How we meet and why it matters. Penguin, 2020.
Rosenfeld, Michael J., et al. “Disintermediating your friends: How online dating in the United States displaces other ways of meeting.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 116, no. 36, 2019, pp. 17753-17758.
Ward, Janelle. “What are you doing on Tinder? Impression management on a matchmaking mobile app.” Information, Communication & Society 20.11 (2017): 1644-1659.
Yau, Joanna C., and Stephanie M. Reich. “Are the qualities of adolescents’ offline friendships present in digital interactions?” Adolescent Research Review 3.3 (2018): 339-355.
Yeo, Tien Ee Dominic, and Tsz Hin Fung. “Relationships form so quickly that you won’t cherish them: Mobile dating apps and the culture of instantaneous relationships.” Proceedings of the 7th 2016 international conference on social media & society. 2016.
