Online Dating; The risks are more than you think.
The internet seems to have a solution to every problems faced by all these days. One of them is the advent of online dating platforms designed with the aim of connecting those interested in romantic relationships together globally.
A good number of us really want to get to know members of the opposite sex and maybe spark a bud of romance. However, no matter how much we try we could not do this physically with our immediate environment. This can be due to shyness or a lack of potential dates. Hence, we resort to the internet for a way out.
There are hundreds of dating sites and apps, but are they really fulfilling their purpose?
A survey carried out in America reveals that 3 out of 10 youths and adults have signed up on various dating sites. A particular site has 11 million paid subscribers, but out of them only 1,450 people actually got married. Out of those that got married, 40 percent (600 got divorced 3 years later).
Based on these statistics, can we say dating platforms are truly achieving their purpose? You answer that.
'But there are people that found true ams lasting love online', you might reason. Definitely, no one is disputing that, but what is the ratio compared to those that didn't? Disappointments have been duly dished out to all and sundry. Actually, if you are just 'Disappointed', consider yourself very lucky.
The Vices
Since the emergence of internet dating, there have been cases of abduction, pedophilic acts, creepy stalking, rape, infliction of serious injuries, fraud and even death.
This is due to the fact that no one really knows who is on the other end. Anyone can be what they want to be online. His picture, how sure are you it's his own? Her location, how can you verify that? He is claiming single, how can you confirm it? She claims she is a successful business woman, how do you figure that out?
In 2012, a woman in Britain developed a romantic attraction with a man she met on a site. The man told her he is an engineer in London, well, she liked what she heard and saw. She was eventually scammed of $45,000 (what led to that was not disclosed. ) She later learnt that her beloved London engineer was actually from Africa. So the man created a fake personality to defraud the unsuspecting woman. Fraud.
In Scotland, a woman reported to the police that a strange man was always following her. The man was apprehended and he turned out to be a her online lover. Since she told him all about her and where she lived, it was easy for him to locate her and stalk her. If course he had a cruel intention, thank God he was discovered early. Stalking.
In Nigeria (one I personally witnessed), a young lady in her early 20s was murdered by her boyfriend the first time she visited him. It turned out the man was a psycho. When asked why he killed her, he said he just 'felt' like. Murder.
I'm not having fun listing these horrible events out, but it is what is really happening. So as not to be a victim of these circumstances, we have to be very careful if we are the cyber-romance type.
Like I mentioned earlier, there is also Disappointment. Some of us have experienced times when we meet someone we have known online physically and they are so different. I'm not just talking about physical appearance- though it's part of it, but also other personalities. You discover that they are not as intelligent as you thought, not calm, talk too much and many others.
How would you feel when the beautiful young lady you thought you have a thing with turns out to be a middle-aged man. How would you feel when you discover that dude is married? These disappointments abound and can come in many ways.
Therefore, 70 percent of online relationships end the day they meet physically. We know what we want, but when online our mind plays a trick on us. Just a description of others is enough to spark an attraction within us. So we have a mental image of what to expect which is high, but we are often disappointed.
The Old-fashioned way
There is someone for everyone. Go out more, interact with people, attend events. But don't be desperate, these things happen at their own right time.
Well, we can't exactly say that everyone we meet online is dangerous. We have to admit that, although the number is small, some people have found true and lasting love online. Besides, as young adults, we can discover these vices and their perpetrators early and eliminate them; provided we are armed with the right knowledge. So you have met someone online (or in case you do). How can you handle it safely with your emotional and physical health in view?
We will consider that in the next article. Subscribe so as not to miss it.
"Anyone you meet online is a stranger, never forget that".
Yeah true