By Kahleel Bragg
Staff Writer
Since 1995, online dating has been growing rapidly and gaining popularity. More and more couples are getting together via social networks and matchmaking websites. According to The Province News, the web consists of about three million active online dating users. However, online dating doesn’t always turn out well, especially if you’re unsure of who you are really talking to.
Online dating can be described as a dating experience that allows individuals to contact and communicate through the Internet. There are many sites on the web in which people can fill out surveys and the website matches them up with another person who matches their survey. People then begin talking online, exchanging numbers and, if they are interested, they set up real dates. However, there is a catch to this; most websites charge a fee in order for you to get matched up. Prices range from $7 to $60 a month, depending on the website.
“I don’t think that you should have to pay any type of money to match yourself up with somebody,” said Abby Brosnan, a sophomore Broadcasting major, who believes that online dating is a scam. “Actually, my grandmother is doing online dating now at eharmony.com, and she was required to pay a fee before contacting her matchmaker.”
Sometimes online dating has proven to work, and a lot of people have found their soulmate. However, online dating is not 100 percent safe, and sometimes there are frauds, predators, rapists, and individuals who pretend to be someone who they’re not. There have been television shows that have caught and exposed these people by showing their conversations and revealing their faces. Some of these shows are MTV’s “Catfish” and NBC’s “To Catch a Predator.”
Toni Barton, a sophomore Criminal Justice major, is also not a fan of online dating. “I definitely wouldn’t do online dating. I see thousands of people a day; I don’t see the need to meet people online.
According to The Global Post, 18 percent of people ages 17–29 use online dating. There are many sites that are strictly dedicated to college students. Datemyschool.com, campushook.com, and universityloveconnection.com are some of the most popular dating sites for college students. Some are free while others cost a monthly fee. However, some students at Post don’t seem to engage too much in online dating. Senior Sociology major Azamat Doszhan also objects to online dating. “It’s not natural,” he said. Doszhan believes that it’s not legitimate.
There are a few reasons why people may participate in online dating. One reason is because they feel more comfortable talking online. Another reason is because it’s a quick and easy way to meet new people. Lastly, there are some people who have been looking for love for a long time and haven’t been able to find it, so a matchmaking site might seem logical to them.
In my opinion, online dating has its pros and cons. I know people who have found lasting relationships after meeting online. However, I also am aware that it is not 100 percent safe all the time. If you’re going to participate in online dating, just make sure that you are careful and know that a person is legitimate.
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