Dating apps have exploded in popularity over the last decade. Applications such as Tinder and OkCupid have run specialized platforms promising connections for people with mutual interests. While millions of people have found love through online dating, others have been the victims of scammers. Whether one is interested in a relationship or a casual hook-up, online chatting can be a fun and positive way to connect with the significant other. However, there are numerous risks attached to online dating, which has influenced the perception of the security and effectiveness of dating apps and services. Even as owners and moderators of the apps continue to employ strategies that safeguard their clients or app users, scammers are also advancing their strategies, which significantly affect the credibility of online dating applications. While online dating has transformed how people establish and maintain relationships, it poses significant risks, including catfishing, privacy and security concerns, cyberbullying, and harassment.
Catfishing scams have become prevalent in online dating sites as people use fake profiles to lure their victims into a relationship. Baba and Monika state that catfishing scams often feel too good to be true, yet the victims continue pursuing them in the hope that they are real (49). A person will portray themselves as the perfect match with all the desired qualities, which may instantly attract the significant other into falling into this trap. Ultimately, such ideas can result in emotional manipulation, financial scams, and even physical harm. Catfishers mostly use these tactics to trick and control the other person. They will manipulate them into giving them money, gifts, personal details, and intimate images, which they may use for blackmail. Therefore, despite some exploring online dating sites for genuine reasons, others will use the apps as an opportunity to extort other people, thus reducing the credibility of online dating as an effective method of establishing safe relationships.
Also, online dating raises privacy and security concerns since the online sharing of personal information, such as full names, addresses, and financial details, can expose one to privacy breaches and potential security threats. Identity thieves will use dating apps to extort people by hacking into their online accounts, coercing them to give up sensitive information, which increases the risk of being scammed (Baba and Monika 49). Therefore, online dating poses significant privacy and security risks since scammers can use the provided personal information to hack into accounts, empty bank accounts, and take out loans and credit cards in one’s name, threatening an unsuspecting person’s personal and financial life.
Online dating sites can be breeding grounds for cyberbullying and abusive behavior such as sexual harassment. Cyberbullying and online harassment are associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and lower self-esteem, which ultimately can result in worse outcomes such as suicide attempts. According to Phan et al. (3), young females under the age of 35 are twice as likely as their male counterparts to be harassed during online dating. Cyberbullying often takes the form of body shaming or the use of offensive names, which significantly affects the victim’s self-esteem. However, online dating companies are deploying new tools such as Artificial intelligence and in-app features to help combat harassment on their platforms by reporting abusive behaviors (Murphy 112). However, research indicates that measures are not as effective as intended since they only seek to punish the offender after the damage is done. Therefore, online dating sites remain breeding grounds for cyberbullying and abusive behavior, and the owners of these sites should ensure they get rid of any potential offenders before they attack.
While online dating poses many risks to the people involved, proponents argue that the benefits outweigh the risks. According to Couch et al. (699), online dating is the most flexible and comfortable, especially for introverts who may find it hard to start a conversation with a stranger. It serves as a secure place for people to establish relationships. Further, online dating breaks geographical barriers, allowing people to engage and explore diverse partners before settling for their preferred one. However, despite having these pros, online dating remains a mainstream form of interaction that could be detrimental to the naïve people who are at an increased risk of being scammed and manipulated.
Therefore, online dating is a valuable tool for establishing relationships but is associated with several risks, including catfishing, privacy breaches pot, potential security threats, and cyberbullying. Owners and moderators of online dating apps must be vigilant in implementing tools that protect their clients from these risks. For example, having help centers that provide guidelines on identifying scammers and steps to take if they become victims of cyberbullying can help create awareness and educate people on the risks of online dating and how to avoid them. More importantly, individuals must protect their online safety by not providing sensitive information and personal contact details to strangers.
Works Cited
Baba, Yamini, and Monika Misra. “Online Dating, Deception, and Associated Risks: A Pilot Investigation.” Indian Journal of Health Studies 5: 46-72.
Couch, Danielle, Pranee Liamputtong, and Marian Pitts. “What are the Real and Perceived Risks and Dangers of Online Dating? Perspectives from Online Daters: Health Risks in the Media.” Health, risk & society 14.7-8 (2012): 697-714.
Murphy, Alyssa. “Dating Dangerously: Risks Lurking within Mobile Dating Apps.” Cath. UJL & Tech 26 (2017): 100.
Phan, Anh, Kathryn Seigfried-Spellar, and Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo. “Threaten Me Softly: A Review of Potential Dating App Risks.” Computers in human behavior report 3 (2021): 100055.
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