Catfishing, danger and low self-esteem! Oh my!
From confidence dwindling to literal murder, the harms of online dating are a spectrum. Dating apps don’t have background checks, which was obvious to Monica White when she found out the man she met on Tagged was actually accused of killing six women, according to People.
About 30% of adults in America use dating apps or websites, which is around 80 million people, according to Forbes. Of course, White’s story is on the more extreme side; everyone who uses dating apps could experience some sort of problem. Catfishing, or when someone uses fake photos to pose as a different online identity, is another problem for both people’s wallets and self-esteem. According to CNN, a total of 19,050 Americans reported a loss of over $700 million to “romance scammers,” or catfishers, in 2022.
Online dating does not let you meet anyone other than exactly what you’re looking for, which sounds like the perfect setup. The truth is, even without catfishing, the apps keep you from finding real connections with real people. In-person dating allows you to meet a variety of people who have different life stories and personalities. No one is going to be perfect, but online, it’s easier to assume they might be.
Not only can you not see others’ personalities, but you also can’t even show your own on dating apps. What does answering a few prompts teach people about you? There is no way to show the real you, to share how your manners are or prove that you actually like the beach. Dating apps almost make you want to lie to look better. They open the door for you to make yourself out to be a taped-up, before version of yourself, and not in a good way.
If you don’t allow yourself to get out there, you’re never going to find someone who likes you for you. The online dating world isn’t just dangerous, it’s a joke.
