Online Dating Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Risks - Literature review Example

Dangers of Online Dating Nadine Graham Rеsеаrсh Еssаy Draft English 123 Introduction The global market has experienced a series of changes over the last two decades. One such pertinent change is increased technology development and devices use. In this case, there has increased internet connectivity globally, internet speed, as well as the spread of smart phones, tablets and laptops with access to the internet. The emergence of these lifestyle changes have impacted on the peoples social life. As such, it is possible to connect and meet new people online. As such, this has facilitated the growth of online dating, where individuals meet and date online (Whitty, 2015). Although this new trend has allowed for an increased dating scope beyond geographical borders, it has its share of challenges. The online dating process presents a new set of challenges that is uncommon in the traditional offline dating process. In particular, online dating exposes individuals to physical, sexual and emotional risks. This essay evaluates the different risks of online dating. Online Dating Physical Risks One of the pertinent challenges to online dating is the risk of physical risks and abuse. In this case, statistical and empirical reviews indicate that the online dating persons are increasingly exposed to physical and sexual assault and abuse as compared to the offline dating individuals. This can be illustrated through a study developed by Finkel et al (2012) on the risks of online dating. The study established that online dating mainly involves people from different locations and regions, and often strangers to one another. In this case, it established that a majority of the persons preferred dating strangers online, rather than people they had ever met or known in the past. Therefore, the individuals purely rely on the provided profile information and data to identify and establish the character and behavior of their dating partners. Unfortunately, such information is often than not insufficient. In this case, dating sites, although having a responsibility to ensure provided information accuracy, often obtain limited data from the clients. As such, the obtained data is limited by the need or privacy rights of the clients. Consequently, it is impossible to identify sexual offenders and kidnappers from their availed profile information. As a result, this has the net effect of exposing the dating partners to the risk of physical and sexual abuse upon meeting such individuals. In the meetings the individuals often drug their victims and consequently rape, assault, kidnap and even murder them. These are challenges specific to the online dating system. In this regard, on the offline dating, the partners know each other well and often avoid dating people with questionable characters. A second sexual and physical risk emerges from the online stalkers and hackers. In this regard, the online stalkers are the individuals, whom, although being on the dating sites, are not actively involved in dating online. Instead, they are focused on obtaining the members details, location information and contact details. Once they obtain such information, they track down and contact the victims, exposing them to physical and sexual assault risks, such as rape among others. A similar category of risks is the online hackers. For the dating platforms, a majority of the acquired background information on the members is retained confidential. This includes their payment and credit card details among others. However, these details fall to the risk of exposure at the hands of online hackers. These individuals acquire unauthorized access to the dating platform members’ private and confidential information (ACMA 2010). Such information such as their credit card and financial details could be used to rob them off their finances. Moreover, other personal details like contacts and location are often used by the third parties to track them down and possibly abuse them both physically and sexually. These challenges are uncommon for offline dating. This is because such private information remains confidential, and the partners only reveal such details to the peoples they are dating as and when they deem it fit. Consequently, third party sex offenders and hackers cannot access such private information Sexual Risks The second risk associated with online dating is the risk of sexual assault. Although sexual assault and abuse remains a challenge even to the offline dating systems, its incidence occurrence is higher for online dating platforms. In this case, sexual assault ranges from unprotected sex, forced sex, to rape. Although dating could and is expected to lead to sexual encounters, if the encounters happen without the consent and free will of both parties, it is perceived as sexual assault. Couch and Liamputtong (2008) developed an evaluation investigating the sexual risks associated with online dating. In this case, the study offered a comparison between sexual assaults and rape on online and offline dating systems. In this case, the evaluation revealed that a majority if the offline sexual assaults were often reported. Moreover, the conviction rates for such crimes were high, as it was imperatively easy to tack and hold such perpetrators responsible. On the contrary, it established that a majority of the sexual assaults on online dating systems had minimal convictions. In this case, the main challenge is the use of fake identities. As such, the perpetrators often use non-real identities when registering on the online profiles. This challenge is pegged on the privacy and security concerns for new members. Although the dating platforms have a responsibility of acquiring basic information, they are unable to fully screen new members. This makes it easier for sex offenders to easily secure accounts with such online dating platforms and consequently expose members to increased sexual risks. In this context, Finkel, et al (2012) noted that the online dating platforms are an attractive platform for sex predators. In this case, a majority of the individuals who cannot date in the offline systems, due to their reputation and legal restrictions, revert to online dating. Thus, an evaluation of the online platforms indicated that they were saturated with sex addicts, sex offenders, and married couples among others. In this regard, the sex predators have minima chances of securing dates in the offline dating system, as their identities and past histories are known. Thus, the minimal safety levels and the lack of a screening process for the online dating platforms create a safe haven for such sex predators. Once the sexual assaults and abuse are perpetrated, it is imperatively hard and almost impossible for the law enforcement agencies to catch up and hold the perpetrators responsible for their actions. As a result, most of the sexual abuse and assault cases although reported, end up with no convictism for the failure of indentifying the perpetrators. The above review and analysis indicates that people involved in online dating are increasingly exposed to sexual assault cases than those on the traditional offline dating systems. Emotional risk The third key challenge and risk in online dating is the emotional turmoil that the online dating victims undergo. Some of the common emotional elements that have been reported and exhibited by online dating partners have been depression, anger, guilt and embarrassment. The nature and magnitude of the emotional impacts rely on the partners’ expectations and the dating process outcomes variances. One major reported cause of emotional pain in online dating is the emergence of scammers. A scammer is a person who uses an in genuine account to access other people’s information and profile. In this case, the majority of the scammers pose as potential romantic partners who are lonely and in search of love and relationships. According to a majority of the reports, most of the scammers feign richness and often demand for exclusive relationships early on in the dating process (Whitty, 2015). In this context, most of the scammers sign up on the dating platforms using false information. Thus, they falsify their location and contact details pretending to be wealthy business people. With the rising global economic challenges, many people are not only desperate and in need of romantic partners, but also seek financial security as well. Therefore, such scammers take advantage of people on dating platforms with unstable financial backgrounds. This creates the emotions of optimism and hope among the dating partners. However, upon meeting and the realization of the actual work of the dating partners, it leads to emotional instability, anger and desperation among the dating personnel. Further, the sexual scammers request for exclusive sexual images and videos from their potential lovers. With the advent of technology changes, through webcams and applications such as what up among other video sharing platforms, such images and videos are easily shared. However, this is shared in the belief that the recipients would hold them confidentially. However, this is not the case with the scammers. To them, such sexual videos and nude pictures shared are used as a source of blackmailing the members. As such, the members could be blackmailed to having sex or paying monetary compensations for the exchange of not sharing such pictures and videos. Such blackmailing trend has exponentially increased over the last 5 years on online dating platforms. An additional emotional challenge emerges from online talkers. In this regard, the stalkers are individuals who follow-up on an individual progress and activities online. They are often nagging and addicted to stalking. Cyber Stalkers take advantage of the internet to stalk and harass their victims. This is achieved from hacking and using such victims’ information to create malicious websites, blogs and false profiles about their victims. Moreover, they at times impersonate the victims, creating the risk of using the victims’ identities for their own selfish and inappropriate roles. Consequently, the persistent unwanted contact from a stalker can result to severe distress and mental trauma. Conclusion In summary, the research essay offers a critical analysis on the risks and challenges facing online dating members. As such, the research categories the risks into three main categories, namely the physical, sexual, and emotional risks respectively. In light of these risks, it forms the informed opinion that although the dating platforms have a role in protecting their members, they effectiveness is limited. Thus, the members should ensure their safety and security while dating online. One such approach could be the conducting of a background check on the potential partners. Thus, besides relying on the profile information, individuals should use the data to verify the profile information with other online accounts such as on social media. This can be accomplished by back checking on the potential partner friends on such social platforms to accurately gauge their lifestyle and character among other life elements. Further, it is advisable that partners should limit the nature of shared information. In this case, it is preferable to limit confidential and sexual information exchange to such a time that they have both already met physically and verified the identities of one another beyond any reasonable doubt. Finally, when it comes to meeting, it is preferable to meet in public places, where the risk of assault and rape is significantly reduced. References ACMA, (2010). Online dating: Staying safe online. Retrieved on 15th December 2015 from: . Couch, D., & Liamputtong, P. (2008). Online dating and mating: The use of the internet to meet sexual partners. Qualitative Health Research, 18(2), pp. 268-279. Finkel, E. J., Eastwick, P. W., Karney, B. R., Reis, H. T., & Sprecher, S. (2012). Online Dating A Critical Analysis From the Perspective of Psychological Science. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 13(1), pp. 3-66. Whitty, M. (2015). Anatomy of the online dating Romance Scam. Macmillan Publishers Ltd. 0955–1662 Security Journal, 28 (4), pp. 443–455 Read More