Relational risks, realities of online dating
Amy Gorczowski
Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: Features
A happy couple stands embracing each other on the television screen as music plays in the background. They tell their story of meeting online and describe it as the best experience ever. Is logging on a computer to find a soul mate easier than meeting in person?
"On average, each month Match.com receives news of more than 400 marriages or engagements from members of former members," Maida Goodman, public relations coordinator for Match.com, said.
As Goodman mentioned, some couples from this count are former members, so even with this statistic, there is no guarantee that the couples in question actually met online, only that they used Match.com at one point.
"Last year alone we got word that more than 500,000 people found a relationship that changed their lives through Match.com," Goodman said.
But what qualifies as changing a life? While online dating may bring happiness and long lasting relationships to some, it also poses a wide variety of risks.
"My first thought about online dating is that there's a certain degree of risk," Lisa Rutherford, a licensed clinical social worker for Chapin and Russell Associates in Peoria, said. "You don't really know the person that you might come into contact with and nothing they have told you is necessarily true."
In addition, it is important to realize the age difference in any potential online relationship. Pursuing a relationship through an online program too early may increase risk for future relationships.
"Our program targets people who are 21 and older, but there are some college aged students involved," Goodman said.
"According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are about 90 million single people in the United States older than 18. Of those 90 million, 60 million are online and 33 million are open to pursuing an online relationship."
Although millions of people are willing to be in an online relationship, one cannot help but wonder what type of people these programs attract.
"As a counselor, one of the risks is getting involved with someone and having that person be sick," Rutherford said. "If that person has significant relationship issues to begin with, that may rub off on the other person involved."
"On average, each month Match.com receives news of more than 400 marriages or engagements from members of former members," Maida Goodman, public relations coordinator for Match.com, said.
As Goodman mentioned, some couples from this count are former members, so even with this statistic, there is no guarantee that the couples in question actually met online, only that they used Match.com at one point.
"Last year alone we got word that more than 500,000 people found a relationship that changed their lives through Match.com," Goodman said.
But what qualifies as changing a life? While online dating may bring happiness and long lasting relationships to some, it also poses a wide variety of risks.
"My first thought about online dating is that there's a certain degree of risk," Lisa Rutherford, a licensed clinical social worker for Chapin and Russell Associates in Peoria, said. "You don't really know the person that you might come into contact with and nothing they have told you is necessarily true."
In addition, it is important to realize the age difference in any potential online relationship. Pursuing a relationship through an online program too early may increase risk for future relationships.
"Our program targets people who are 21 and older, but there are some college aged students involved," Goodman said.
"According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are about 90 million single people in the United States older than 18. Of those 90 million, 60 million are online and 33 million are open to pursuing an online relationship."
Although millions of people are willing to be in an online relationship, one cannot help but wonder what type of people these programs attract.
"As a counselor, one of the risks is getting involved with someone and having that person be sick," Rutherford said. "If that person has significant relationship issues to begin with, that may rub off on the other person involved."
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