Internet relationship
An internet relationship is a relationship between people who have met
Technological advances
According to J. Michael Jaffe, author of Gender, Pseudonyms, and CMC: Masking Identities and Baring Souls, "the Internet was originally established to expedite communication between governmental scientists and defense experts, and was not at all intended to be the popular 'interpersonal mass medium' it has become",[2] yet new and revolutionary devices enabling the mass public to communicate online are constantly being developed and released.
Rather than having many devices for different uses and ways of interacting, communicating online is more accessible and cheaper by having an Internet function built into one device, such as
Some of these ways of communicating online are asynchronous (meaning not in real time), such as YouTube and some are synchronous (immediate communication), such as Twitter. Synchronous communication occurs when two or more participants are interacting in real time via voice or text chat.[3]
Types of relationships
Many types of internet relationships are possible in today's world of technology.
Internet dating
Internet dating is very relevant in the lives of many individuals worldwide.[4] A major benefit in the rise of Internet dating is the decrease in prostitution. People no longer need to search on the streets to find casual relationships. They can find them online if that is what they desire.[4] Internet dating websites offer matchmaking services for people to find love or whatever else they may be looking for. The creation of the internet and its progressive innovations have opened up doors for people to meet other people who they may very well have never met otherwise.[4]
Dating website innovations
Although the availability of uploading videos to the internet is not a new innovation, it has been made easier since 2008 thanks to
Users
According to an article in the New York Times, mediated matchmaking has been around since the mid-1800s.[7] Online dating was made available in the mid-1990s, with the creation of the first dating sites.[8] These dating sites create a space for liberation of sexuality. According to Sam Yagan of OkCupid, "the period between New Year's Day and Valentine's Day is [our] busiest six weeks of the year".[7] Changes that online dating companies have created include not only the increase of pickiness in singles, but the rise in interracial marriages and spread the acceptance of homosexual individuals. Dating sites "are a place where sexual minorities, inter-sexed people and gay people are enjoying a newly found freedom".[8] Several studies have shown the availability of online dating to produce a greater closeness and intimacy between individuals because it circumvents barriers that face-to-face interactions might have. "Participating in personal relationships online allow for almost full freedom from power relations in the offline/real world."[5]
A plethora of virtual sexual identities are represented in online profiles. The amount of personal information users are being asked to provide is constantly increasing. More and more online users are starting to explore and experiment with aspects of their sexual identities, whereas before, they may have felt uncomfortable due to social constraints or fear of possible repercussions.[9] Most internet sites containing personal profiles require individuals to fill in "personal information" sections. Often these sections include a series of multiple choice questions. Due to the anonymity of these virtual profiles, individuals are more frequent to 'role'-play at being one of the predefined 'types', although offline, reservations may inhibit the individual from sharing true answers.
There have also been many studies done to observe online daters and their reason for turning to the internet to look for romantic partners. According to Robert J. Brym and Rhonda L. Lenton, users of online games, websites, and other virtual communities are encouraged to conceal their identities and learn things about themselves that they never knew before.[10] With a concealed identity, an online user can be whoever they want to be at that exact moment. They have the ability to venture outside of their comfort zone and act as someone completely different.
The Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication reports the results of a study conducted by Robert J. Stephure, Susan D. Boon, Stacy L. MacKinnon, and Vicki L. Deveau on types of relationships online participants were seeking. They concluded that "when asked what they were looking for in an online relationship, the considerable majority of participants expressed interest in seeking fun, companionship, and someone to talk to. Most also reported interests in developing casual friendships and dating relationships with online partners. Substantially fewer reported using the Internet for the specific purposes of identifying potential sexual or marital partners."[11]
However, a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2012, looked at about 19,000 married people and those who met their spouse online said their marriage was more satisfying than those who met their spouse offline. Plus, marriages that began online were less likely to end in separation or divorce.[12]
Faye Mishna, Alan McLuckie, and Michael Saini, co-authors of the Social Work Research article Real-World Dangers in an Online Reality: A Qualitative Study Examining Online Relationships and Cyber Abuse, reported the results of their research and observation of over 35,000 individuals between the ages of 6 and 24 who have been or currently are a part of an internet relationship about which they had concerns, and consequently contacted an organization that provided online support. Of the final 346 posts chosen to be included in the study, the average age of online users sharing information about their online relationship(s) was 14 years old.[13] The overwhelming result was that children and youth consider their online relationships to be just as "real" as their offline relationships. The study also showed that the internet plays a crucial role in sexual and romantic experiences of this population of adolescent users.[13]
Success of dating websites and social networks
Canaan Partners have reported that the dating industry brings in an estimate of 3-4 billion dollars yearly from membership fees and advertisements.[7] The range of dating sites has expanded vastly over the past two decades. There are dating websites that focus on the matchmaking of certain groups of people based on religion, sexual preference, race, etc.[7]
The average life expectancy has been on a rise, leaving many young singles feeling as if they have plenty of time to find a
Erik Shipmon, author of “Why Do People Date Online?", exclaims, "the Internet is the ultimate singles' bar—without the noise, the drunks, and the high cost of all those not-so-happy hours. Nor, thanks to online dating membership sites, do you have to depend on your friends and family to hook you up with people they think would be perfect for you—and who wouldn't be perfect for, well, anyone, which is why they are still unattached”.[14]
Cybersex
Some people who are in an online relationship also participate in cybersex, which is a virtual sex encounter in which two or more individuals who are connected remotely via computer network send each other sexually explicit messages describing a sexual experience. This can also include individuals communicating sexually via video or audio. Some websites offer a cybersex service, where a patron pays the website owner in exchange for an online sexual experience with another person.
Cybersex sometimes includes real life masturbation. The quality of a cybersex encounter typically depends upon the participants' abilities to evoke a vivid, visceral mental picture in the minds of their partners. Imagination and suspension of disbelief are also critically important. Cybersex can occur either within the context of existing or intimate relationships, e.g. among lovers who are geographically separated, or among individuals who have no prior knowledge of one another and meet in virtual spaces or cyberspaces and may even remain anonymous to one another. In some contexts cybersex is enhanced by the use of a webcam to transmit real-time video of the partners.
Social networking relationships
Social networking has enabled people to connect with each other via the internet. Sometimes, members of a
"Social networking service" is a very broad term, branching out to websites based on many different aspects. One aspect that is possible on all social networking sites is the possibility of an internet relationship. These sites enable users to search for new connections based on location, education, experiences, hobbies, age, gender, and more. This allows individuals meeting each other to already have some characteristic in common. These sites usually allow for people who do not know each other to "add" each other as a connection or friend and to send each other messages. This connection can lead to more communication between two individuals. An immense amount of information about the individuals can be found directly on their social network profile. Proving those individuals include plentiful and accurate information about themselves, people in online relationships can find out much about each other by viewing profiles and "about me's". Communication between individuals can become more frequent, thus forming some type of relationship via the internet. This relationship can turn into an acquaintance, a friendship, a romantic relationship, or even a business partnership.
Online gaming
Online gaming elicits the introduction of many different types of people in one interface. A common type of online game where individuals form relationships is the MMORPG, or a
Online games other than MMORPGs can elicit internet relationships as well. Card games such as
are another type of popular online game that allow individuals to socialize with other players.Games create social spaces for people of various ages, with userbases often crossing age brackets. Most of these games enable individuals to chat with each other, as well as form groups and
Digital anthropologist Bonnie Nardi emphasizes the significance of online relationships in the video game "World of Warcraft". Based on participant observation, she observes players that meets on the internet and ended up developing a relationship throughout the process of playing the video game. People from all across the world can meet up in a virtual platform, and even starting a relationship. Technologies has really brought people closer with one another, and creating a great environment. Nardi talks about one of her guild members named Zeke who was engaged to Malore that they met in a dungeon run. "I had not seen that there might be anything other than emoting going on, and told him I was married. Zeke then revealed that he was engaged to Malore (whom he had met in World of Warcraft) but that the relationship was not going well." (Nardi, Page 165) Zeke's relationship Malore happened due to the fact that Zeke had several accounts in the game and apparently he was able to flirt with Malore while using different characters to run down the dungeon with her.
Online forums and chatrooms
An Internet forum is a website that includes conversations in the form of posted messages. Forums can be for general chatting or can be broken down into categories and topics. They can be used to ask questions, post opinions, or debate topics. Forums include their own jargon, for example a conversation is a "thread". Different forums also have different lingo and styles of communicating.
There are religion forums, music forums, car forums, and countless other topics. These forums elicit communication between individuals no matter the location, gender, ethnicity, etc. although some do include age restrictions. Through these forums people may comment on each other's topics or threads, and with further communication form a friendship, partnership, or romantic relationship.
Professional relationships
Even in work settings, the introduction of the internet has established easier and sometimes more practical forms of communicating. The internet is often referred to as a vehicle for investor relations[15] or the "electronic highway" for business transactions in the United States.[16] The Internet has increased organizational involvement by facilitating the flow of information between face-to-face meetings and allowing for people to arrange meetings at virtually any given time. Socially, it has stimulated positive change in people's lives by creating new forms of online interaction and enhancing offline relationships worldwide, allowing for better and more efficient business communication.[8]
Advantages
For more
Online, barriers that might stand in the way of a potential relationship such as physical attractiveness, social anxiety and stuttering do not exist. Whereas those could hinder an individual in face-to-face encounters, an Internet interaction negates this and allows the individual freedom. Research has shown that stigmas such as these can make a large impact on first impressions in face-to-face meeting, and this does not apply with an online relationship.[21] Furthermore, as the internet has become a worldwide phenomenon, many people can interact with others around the world, or find someone who fits their radar or their type, if there is no one who they find physically or emotionally attractive in their own area. The internet allows for interaction of many different people so there is greater chance of finding someone more attractive. The Internet "enhances face-to-face and telephone communication as network members become more aware of each others' needs and stimulate their relationships through more frequent contact".[22]
According to Joseph Walter's
In The Forms of Capital[24] Pierre Bourdieu defines social capital as "the aggregate of the actual or potential resources which are linked to possession of a durable network of more or less institutionalized relationships of mutual acquaintance and recognition."
Social capital researchers have found[25] that "various forms of social capital, including ties with friends and neighbors, are related to indices of psychological well-being, such as self-esteem and satisfaction with life".[26] Then, the use of a social networking service could help to improve the social capital.
More than helping to improve the social capital, the use of a social networking service could help to retain it. For instance, Cummings, Lee and Kraut have shown[27] that communication services like instant messaging "help college students to remain close to their high school friends after they leave home for college".
Disadvantages
The Internet provides the opportunity for
In an empirical study of commitment and misrepresentation on the Internet, Cornwell and Lundgren (2001)[29] surveyed 80 chat-room users. Half about their 'realspace' relationships, and half about their cyberspace relationships. They found that 'realspace' relationships were considered to be more serious, with greater feelings of commitment, than the cyber-relationship participants. Both groups, however, reported similar levels of satisfaction and potential for 'emotional growth' with regard to romantic relationships. Cornwell and Lundgren[29] went on to ask about whether the participants had misrepresented themselves to their partner in a number of areas: their interests (e.g. hobbies, musical tastes); their age; their background; their appearance and 'mis-presentation of yourself in any other way' (p. 203). Participants responded using either yes or no to each question, and their score was summed into a misrepresentation measure. The results can be found below:[30]
Dangers of internet relationships
An oft-forgotten aspect of online interactions is the possible danger present. The option for an individual to conceal their identity may be harmless in many cases, but it can also lead to extremely dangerous situations. Hidden identities are often used in cases of
Engaging in internet relationships is also risky because the information placed online about an individual does not have to be accurate. An individual can formulate an entirely different persona and pose as this person as long as they desire. This can be hurtful to individuals who are honest about their identities and believe that they are in a positive relationship or friendship with the individual. This concept has been most recently illustrated on the television show, Catfish: The TV Show.
Misrepresentation of... | Cyberspace relationship | Realspace relationship |
---|---|---|
Interests | 15% | 20% |
Age | 23% | 5% |
Background | 18% | 10% |
Physical Characteristics | 28% | 13% |
Other | 15% | 5% |
Internet affairs
Internet affairs offer a new perspective on the definition of an
Effects on face-to-face interactions
Since the creation of the
Some see a major negative impact resulting in an increased use of internet communication is of its diversion of true community[8] because online interaction via computers is often regarded as a more impersonal communication medium than face-to-face communication.[33] Others consider the incorporation of the internet allowing online activities to be "viewed as an extension of offline activities".[22] The multiple techniques that humans use to communicate, such as taking turns or nodding in agreement, are absent in these settings.[30] Without the body language cues present in a face-to-face conversation, such as pauses or gestures, participants in instant messaging may type over one another's messages without necessarily waiting for a cue to talk. Also, with or without the correct grammar, tone and context can be misunderstood. Recently people who already adapted internet-based communication have missed face-to-face interactions because this traditional way of communication is able to offer advancement in our relationships.
Early positive view
In 1991, Stone argued that when
Pseudocommunity theory
In 1987, this understanding of social spaces was challenged by scholars such as
Weakening of social ties
In many cases the introduction of the Internet as a social instigator may cause a repercussion leading to a weakening of social ties. In a study conducted in 1998, Robert Kraut et al. discovered that Internet users were becoming less socially involved. They linked this to an increase in
In this newer paper, Kraut stated that there were fewer negative affects than he had originally found, and in some cases the negative effect had vanished. In the second study he saw that small positive effects began to appear in social
During the Kraut et al. study, the researchers asked reclusive people if they use the Internet to counteract the loss of social skills that are needed in face-to-face encounters.[37] They also asked people with strong social skills whether they use the Internet to amplify their abilities to network amongst people. The study discovered that these people who already possessed strong social skills were the ones who received the most beneficial outcome to using the Internet. The concluding analysis was, that rather than helping to decrease the difference between those who already had social skills compared with those lacking in social skills, internet use had actually exacerbated the differences in the skill level needed for social interaction.[37]
Assisting reclusive people
This theory was later challenged in a study, by McKenna et al.,
See also
- Social networking service
- Robert Kraut
- Harry Reis
References
- ^ Quercia, Daniele; Bodaghi, Mansoureh; Crowcroft, Jon. "Loosing friends on https://bit.ly/2Exn2c8 (2019)facebook" (PDF). ACM Web Science Conference.
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- ^ Jaffe, J. Michael. "Gender, Pseudonyms, and CMC: Masking Identities and Baring Souls". Paper for 45th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, 1995, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. University of Michigan. Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
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- ^ ISBN 9781605661049.
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- ^ Jayson, Sharon (January 23, 2013). "Online dating has changed everything, author says". USA Today. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
- ^ a b c d e Shaefer, Laura J. (14 February 2003). "Looking for Love, Online or On Paer". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ^ a b c d Brooks, Mark. "How has Internet dating changed society? An Insider's Look" (PDF). Scholarly Article. Courtland Brooks. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- ^ DiMarco, Heather (2003). Electronic Cloak: Secret Sexual Deviance in Cybersociety. Oregon: William Publishing.
- ^ a b c d Brym, Robert J. (2001). Love Online: A Report On Digital Dating in Canada (PDF). Toronto: Msn.ca.
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- ^ "Business Insider". Business Insider. Retrieved 31 Jul 2018.
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- ^ Shipmon, Erik. "Why do people date online". Retrieved 27 April 2012.
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- ^ Cronin, Mary (1995). Doing More Business on the Internet: How the Electronic Highway Is Transforming American Companies. John Wiley and Sons. p. 368.
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- ^ Bourdieu, Pierre (1986). "The Forms of Capital". Marxists.org. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
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- ^ Cummings, J.; Lee, J.; Kraut, R. (2006). Communication technology and friendship during the transition from high school to college. Oxford University Press.
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- ^ Brody, Jane (16 May 2000). "Cybersex Gives Birth to a Psychological Disorder". The New York Times.
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Further reading
- Clift, Pamala (2013) Virgin's Handbook on Virtual Relationships (CreateSpace)ISBN 1463666993
- Dwyer, Diana (2000) Interpersonal Relationships (Routledge Modular Psychology)
- Englehardt, E.E. (2001), Ethical Issues in Interpersonal Communication: Friends, Intimates, Sexuality, Marriage, and Family, Hartcourt College Publishers, Fort Worth, TX,
- Schnarch, D (1997). "Sex, intimacy, and the internet". Journal of Sex Education. 22 (1): 15–20. .
- Christine Hine (8 July 2005). Virtual methods: issues in social research on the Internet. Berg. pp. 22–. ISBN 978-1-84520-085-5. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
- Adam N. Joinson (17 May 2007). The Oxford handbook of Internet psychology. Oxford University Press. pp. 217–. ISBN 978-0-19-856800-1. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
- Fred P. Piercy; Katherine M. Hertlein; Joseph L. Wetchler (28 December 2005). Handbook of the Clinical Treatment of Infidelity. Psychology Press. pp. 178–. ISBN 978-0-7890-2995-9. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
- Aboujaoude, E. (2011). Virtually you: The dangerous powers of the e-personality. New York: W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-07064-4