Numerous studies (Almjeld, 2014; Pizzato, Rej, Akehurst, Koprinska, Yacef, & Kay, 2012; Best & Delmege, 2012) have researched a multitude of factors that contribute to online dating, these studies primarily revolve around online dating profiles and how different aspects of a profile can affect a person’s behaviors. There are also other studies (Blackhart, Fitzpatrick, & Williamson, 2014; Heino & Gibbs, 2006; Baker & Hastings, 2013) which focus on another aspect of online dating - dispositional factors. The amount of studies done on online dating does not come as a surprise since online dating is on the rise. A recent study conducted by Ansari (2015) stated that, “from 1995 to 2010 how heterosexual Americans met their spouses and romantic partners, meeting online increased from 16% to 24%” (p. 83). However, the extensive research that revolves around online dating seems to have few studies (Ramirez, Sumner, Fleuriet, & Cole, 2014; Manning, 2013) surrounding the effects of transitioning from online dating to offline dating.
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These studies focus on the online communication done prior to meeting offline and how this communication has affected the offline relationship and face-to-face communication abilities. In today’s aspect of online dating and the development of technology there are now even more accessible means of online dating, many dating websites have applications on smartphones for convenience and ease that limit face-to-face communication. Along with these website applications there are also strictly smartphone apps that are made for the purpose of online dating. The importance of studying online dating behaviors and the transition to offline dating through different means of communication is vital to society’s ever-changing technological advancements as it corresponds to face-to-face communication behaviors. The purpose of this study is to explore online dating behaviors and the effects they have on offline dating experience. This paper will explore three sections within online dating: profile construction, online behavior with a focus in gender roles and how those affect perception of self, and how relationships make the transformation from online to offline dating. Literature Review Profile Construction Profile construction is the first step in entering the world of online dating. There are numerous ways to construct an identity, however in filling out applications for online dating websites the broad ways begin to narrow with every question asked. The websites force users into a heteronormative state with these carefully crafted questions, and in doing so – forces the user to describe a different version of self that does not meet the exact real life self (Almjeld, 2015). The construction of these identities and the freedom it allows can cause a user to no longer portray their true self but rather a prospective self. In Almjeld’s (2015) research, the conclusion is drawn that while many dating sites lead users to believe they have the freedom in constructing their profile, the site actually subconsciously forces the user to succumb to societal gender roles and bias and then the user alters their behavior to reflect that which is state on the profile. The ability to enhance different aspects of a personality from online offers a wide possibility to self-create this meta-personality. These meta-personalities get put onto a website or app and then users filter through them, some taking
These studies focus on the online communication done prior to meeting offline and how this communication has affected the offline relationship and face-to-face communication abilities. In today’s aspect of online dating and the development of technology there are now even more accessible means of online dating, many dating websites have applications on smartphones for convenience and ease that limit face-to-face communication. Along with these website applications there are also strictly smartphone apps that are made for the purpose of online dating. The importance of studying online dating behaviors and the transition to offline dating through different means of communication is vital to society’s ever-changing technological advancements as it corresponds to face-to-face communication behaviors. The purpose of this study is to explore online dating behaviors and the effects they have on offline dating experience. This paper will explore three sections within online dating: profile construction, online behavior with a focus in gender roles and how those affect perception of self, and how relationships make the transformation from online to offline dating. Literature Review Profile Construction Profile construction is the first step in entering the world of online dating. There are numerous ways to construct an identity, however in filling out applications for online dating websites the broad ways begin to narrow with every question asked. The websites force users into a heteronormative state with these carefully crafted questions, and in doing so – forces the user to describe a different version of self that does not meet the exact real life self (Almjeld, 2015). The construction of these identities and the freedom it allows can cause a user to no longer portray their true self but rather a prospective self. In Almjeld’s (2015) research, the conclusion is drawn that while many dating sites lead users to believe they have the freedom in constructing their profile, the site actually subconsciously forces the user to succumb to societal gender roles and bias and then the user alters their behavior to reflect that which is state on the profile. The ability to enhance different aspects of a personality from online offers a wide possibility to self-create this meta-personality. These meta-personalities get put onto a website or app and then users filter through them, some taking