On a recent episode of Catfish, 19-year-old Keyonnah from North Carolina reached out to host Nev Schulman to confirm whether or not the guy she had been in an online relationship for months was in fact her crush, the rapper Bow Wow. It wasn’t. Nev knew it, we knew it, and deep down, Keyonnah knew it too. The fact that the person turned out to be a woman, an aspiring rapper named Dee Pimpin, threw everyone a curveball.
Despite the unpredictability attached to online dating, long working/studying hours and changes in contemporary lifestyles have made dating websites somewhat of an ideal choice in finding a partner.
The taboo associated with meeting someone online is dwindling, with online relationship formation becoming a new normal. The influx of Match.com commercials stating “1 in 5 relationships now begin on an online dating site” constantly serves as a reminder.
While Penn junior Karina Rios has never personally experienced the benefits of online dating, she stated, “I think it’s perfectly fine. People are usually so busy.”
With people’s busy schedules, frequently dating in order to find Mr. or Mrs. Right may be too time consuming. Rather than wait until date twelve to find out someone has already been married or has children, this information is readily available in seconds.
Additionally, the increased need for personalization over the years has resulted in a growth of niche dating sites that help aspiring lovers cut to the chase on qualities they find are most important in a partner. For Christians, there is ChristianMingle.com. For equestrians, there is EquestrianCupid.com. There are even sites for singles with the same food allergies and for singles with the same STD, SinglesWithFoodAllergies.com and STDmatch.net respectively.
Although the number of online dating options is increasing, many Penn students often remain skeptical in the realization that Keyonnah’s case, though extreme, is not unique. The ever-omnipresent threat of catfishing (someone using a fabricated/stolen online identity to trick someone into a relationship) and the stigma of desperation attached with looking for someone online keeps many at bay.
Penn Senior Rina Moss stated, “I don’t think I would ever try it because I heard more bad experiences over good ones.” One experience in particular involved her high school music teacher, who went on a series of dates from online sites that didn’t pan out because most were “weirdos.” While her music teacher eventually found someone she ended up marrying, it resulted in a quick divorce.
Classes, extracurricular activities, frat parties, and bars are the current primary venues for finding dates on campus. The emergence of sites such as DateMySchool.com, aimed at alumni and students—and which proclaims no weirdos, relatives, or stalkers—shows a slight shift in perspective.