The Dangers and Risks of Online Dating (Free Essay Example)

Let’s talk about dating apps, now everyone is probably thinking about what is so important about dating apps. Well, something that is very important is that these dating apps are very dangerous. Sometimes people after not finding a match get upset, maybe cry or eat some ice cream. But here is an idea: do what they did a few years ago. Go out and find a man or woman or whatever.. Now, taking a chance can be a bit scary, but the worst thing that can happen is that person says no. Dating apps are dangerous because of the people actually using the apps. While many look for dating apps to bring people together, they are bringing the wrong people together, resulting in dangerous consequences. 

Catfish are people who pretend to be someone they are not. Catfishing means luring someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona. That is the definition, the definition that is true and factual. In an article it states: 

When someone is catfished, it can be extremely damaging to their mental health 

– especially if they are emotionally invested in a friendship or romantic

relationship with the catfisher. Victims of catfishing can find it extremely difficult to 

trust after their experience – affecting relationships both personal and 

professional. (“Catfishing”)

This quote means in a relationship people have to be emotionally and physically invested for the relationship to work. It is damaging to mental health because when someone trusts someone and they stab them in the back. Having people stab the same person in the back a lot of times soon they might just give up. Long story short, catfishes are horrible people.

There have been so many catfishes that they created a whole show about catfishing. Fun fact: One of the hosts of Catfish was on dancing with the stars last year during thanksgiving and christmas time. Basically the whole show is about this person thinking someone is catfishing them so they get on the show. The host helps the two people meet and they decide whether or not the two people will be together. But this host could be risking his life by having the people meet. Even though the show is aired it is still pretty dangerous. The host doesn’t know if anyone he is helping kind of get their relationship together can or will hurt him or someone else. In an article it states “Some people who catch catfish go to extreme lengths to create fake identities – having multiple social media accounts with the purpose of building up and validating their catfishing profiles.”(“Catfishing”) This shows that the show tries to get people to stop catfishing people. Sometimes people aren’t stable and go to extreme lengths to have someone give them some sort of attention. Catfishes are very dangerous people.

A specific dating app that is bad is Tinder ( swipe right ). Tinder is a dating app where swiping right means interest. Swiping left means not interested or just doesn’t seem like someone's type. But as bad as Tinder is, semi-famous people are on the app. Like the other Jonas Brother, Frankie Jonas. In the article it says “Data from a 2020 Pew Research Center study confirms that many women are experiencing some form of harassment on dating sites and apps.” (“The darkest side of online dating”)Tinder is dangerous because when looking at people they have their bio which is a few facts and the miles of how far someone is from a Tinder user. Which, how far away someone is. That doesn’t seem like the safest thing in the world. Tinder is a very dangerous dating app for its users.

Something big that has happened on Tinder is the Tinder Swindler. What the Tinder Swindler did is scam a bunch of people out of money. He scammed about a total of 10 million dollars out of a few girls. He just said he needed some money for whatever reason and got the money. In an article it says “Enticed by the offer, Hayut sent $6,664 via Paypal, according to TMZ, which published the bank records. Hayut sent $6,664 via Paypal, according to TMZ, which published the bank records. Later, he realized that the tables had turned, and he had been conned, according to The Daily Mail.”(Chirinos) This quote is basically saying that this is kind of what he did. He created a story about how he needed money and girls sent him that money. Then, once he got the money he ghosted them. The Tinder Swindler has been a con artist for over a decade, in and out of jail. The Tinder Swindler is a bad guy who needs to stop scamming people out of money.

Although dating apps are dangerous, there can be some good things about them. Sometimes people actually find love on dating apps. Some people match,talk, and then start dating. But after dating normally engagement and marriage. Some people could get married after meeting on a dating app. Study reveals  “Women on dating apps were more interested in marriage and having a family than those meeting partners offline”(“Study reveals unexpected benefits of dating apps”)  Sometimes people find love in places no one expects. Dating apps can have some upside to things about the app.

There are many dating apps that are dangerous because while many look to dating apps to bring people together, they are bringing the wrong people together, resulting in dangerous consequences. Also, people who catfish can hurt anyone they choose and just make it seem like a harmless date. People aren’t safe while using dating apps. This is why dating apps are bad and dangerous for any of the app's users. 

Work Cited 

Chirinos, Carmela “The ‘Tinder Swindler’ accused of duping women out of $10 million falls for Instagram scam” Fortune, Fortune, March 03, 2022, https://fortune.com/2022/03/03/the-tinder-swindler-falls-for-instagram-scam/#:~:text=Hayut%20has%20been%20in%20and,women%2C%20but%20fled%20to%20Israel, March 14, 2022

The, darkest “The darkest side of online dating”, BBC, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating, March 14, 2022

Sarah Wells, “Digital love study reveals unexpected benefits of dating apps”, Inverse, Inverse, December 30, 2020, https://www.inverse.com/innovation/the-science-of-dating-apps, March 14, 2022

Catfishing, “Catfishing”, Cybersmile, Cybersmile, https://www.cybersmile.org/what-we-do/advice-help/catfishing#:~:text=As%20well%20as%20the%20emotional,come%20about%20because%20of%20catfishing. , March 14, 2022.