Online dating platforms have become the most popular means of finding love, especially since social distancing hit the dating scene in 2020. However, recent research shows that the way we are treated on dating platforms seeps into other areas of our lives and has a devastating effect on our mental health.
The research on communication via dating apps looked into the ways people communicate on dating platforms, how they exchange information, and how it affects their future relationships. Results show that the way we are treated online directly translates into our relationships and the way we perceive ourselves.
Some sources state that around 33% of females experienced offensive name-calling online, and even more experienced ghosting and disrespectful treatment. These are the most common but also the least harmful forms of online dating dangers people experience.
Being exposed to this kind of behavior for a longer period of time slowly makes us see these forms of abuse as normal. We accept disrespectful behavior as the expected pattern of behavior in relationships, which in return only creates new problems and increases the risk of dating violence in real-life relationships.
Experts recommend stopping tolerating online behavior we wouldn’t tolerate in offline relationships — if someone is disrespectful to you in a bar, you don’t brush it off as a meaningless thing and smile. Furthermore, do research before you join a dating platform: whether you are a senior looking for love or a BDSM enthusiast looking for like-minded people, the Interner has your back.
