"Online dating allows people access to potential partners they otherwise would not have." (Finkel et al.,2012)
Some research shows that when forming relationships online, the lack of non-verbals and physical cues aids people in forming relationships online. (Kang & Hoffman, 2011) By not having to be self-conscious of your body or non-verbals you could be sending, it helps some people feel liberated and more willing to share about themselves. On the internet, people typically feel less inhibited and more comfortable which increases self-disclosure with what are strangers on online dating sites. (Kang & Hoffman, 2011)
The developments of online dating sites now give users have the ability to share more than their name, job, and basic information. With these developments online dating sites they allow personal and private communication between users. This is where users have the ability to self-disclose to the other user and begin to form an intimate relationship. Along with this, another benefit to online dating is the breadth of people you can be matched with. Online dating sites can find a match for you that lived in the same apartment building or someone that lived two towns over and was a great match you would have never found on your own.
The lack of non-verbals and physical cues is seen as a positive for people who are more self-conscious or seen as socially awkward in initiating conversations with potential partners. Online dating is a prime example of the poor-get-richer hypothesis. The poor-get-richer hypothesis poses that people who are shy or do not have a wide network of friends use the internet to broaden their network, and in the case of online dating, meet a partner. For some individuals it is easier to self-disclose through computer-mediated-communication when attempting to begin an intimate relationship. Being able to self-disclose without being face to face can help create the intimacy that is needed in romantic relationships. Intimacy is strongly linked to feeling understood by one's partner which is something many people desire in relationships (Ellison, Henio, & Gibbs, 2006). By being able to self-disclose in this manner, expressions of the self are "given" opposed to being "given off" through verbal cues that could be taken incorrectly or incorrect assumptions could be made from (Ellison, Henio, & Gibbs, 2006).
Although deception is always a fear with online dating, there are some factors that have been shown to prevent deception between users. For instance, the anticipation of the face-to-face meeting with the other user often discourages users from being deceiving. The anticipation of the face to face interaction influences the users' self-presentation choices, causing them to be likely to represent themselves honestly (Ellison, Henio, & Gibbs, 2006). The possibility of face-to-face meeting also has an effect on self-disclosure, with users being more conscious of what they disclose if they are anticipating meeting the other user (Ellison, Henio, & Gibbs, 2006).
Online dating is also a very beneficial environment for individuals who may feel stigmatized dating in other contexts. These individuals include those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual. Online dating is beneficial for these groups because they can be open about their gender identity or sexual orientation without feeling threatened about being stigmatized. Research shows that gays, lesbians, and middle-aged heterosexuals are three of the populations who use online dating sites the most (Rosenfeld & Thomas, 2012). These individuals are in what is termed as a "thin market" for finding partners opposed to say college students who are in an environment with a plethora of potential partners (Rosenfeld & Thomas, 2012).
Opposed to finding people through Facebook or social media, people who use legitimate online dating sites are more often than not single. It also gives the user more than just looks and small talk at say a bar to base their perception of another person off of. This video by eHow discusses these benefits of online dating and more.
The developments of online dating sites now give users have the ability to share more than their name, job, and basic information. With these developments online dating sites they allow personal and private communication between users. This is where users have the ability to self-disclose to the other user and begin to form an intimate relationship. Along with this, another benefit to online dating is the breadth of people you can be matched with. Online dating sites can find a match for you that lived in the same apartment building or someone that lived two towns over and was a great match you would have never found on your own.
The lack of non-verbals and physical cues is seen as a positive for people who are more self-conscious or seen as socially awkward in initiating conversations with potential partners. Online dating is a prime example of the poor-get-richer hypothesis. The poor-get-richer hypothesis poses that people who are shy or do not have a wide network of friends use the internet to broaden their network, and in the case of online dating, meet a partner. For some individuals it is easier to self-disclose through computer-mediated-communication when attempting to begin an intimate relationship. Being able to self-disclose without being face to face can help create the intimacy that is needed in romantic relationships. Intimacy is strongly linked to feeling understood by one's partner which is something many people desire in relationships (Ellison, Henio, & Gibbs, 2006). By being able to self-disclose in this manner, expressions of the self are "given" opposed to being "given off" through verbal cues that could be taken incorrectly or incorrect assumptions could be made from (Ellison, Henio, & Gibbs, 2006).
Although deception is always a fear with online dating, there are some factors that have been shown to prevent deception between users. For instance, the anticipation of the face-to-face meeting with the other user often discourages users from being deceiving. The anticipation of the face to face interaction influences the users' self-presentation choices, causing them to be likely to represent themselves honestly (Ellison, Henio, & Gibbs, 2006). The possibility of face-to-face meeting also has an effect on self-disclosure, with users being more conscious of what they disclose if they are anticipating meeting the other user (Ellison, Henio, & Gibbs, 2006).
Online dating is also a very beneficial environment for individuals who may feel stigmatized dating in other contexts. These individuals include those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual. Online dating is beneficial for these groups because they can be open about their gender identity or sexual orientation without feeling threatened about being stigmatized. Research shows that gays, lesbians, and middle-aged heterosexuals are three of the populations who use online dating sites the most (Rosenfeld & Thomas, 2012). These individuals are in what is termed as a "thin market" for finding partners opposed to say college students who are in an environment with a plethora of potential partners (Rosenfeld & Thomas, 2012).
Opposed to finding people through Facebook or social media, people who use legitimate online dating sites are more often than not single. It also gives the user more than just looks and small talk at say a bar to base their perception of another person off of. This video by eHow discusses these benefits of online dating and more.