When Internet Worlds Collide: Online Dating and Facebook
- Sunday, December 06 2009 @ 10:18 am
- Contributed by: EFoley
- Views: 3,167
Online dating consistently straddles a very fine line, with one foot in the Internet, a place of anonymity, and the other in the real world, assuming you will eventually meet face-to-face. When you're first getting to know someone online, it's a natural instinct for many to provide every bit of their online identity, including information like their social networking pages.
But should you add a potential date to your Facebook?
On one hand, checking out a date's Facebook might seem like a good idea. After all, dating involves the somewhat scary issue of safety, and any additional information you gather may help you make an informed decision.
On the other hand, your own Facebook page may be saying much more about you than you realize. Not only do many people have their places of work listed, some even include their addresses. Those “status updates” often say quite a bit about a person's daily routine. Even your friends' comments can be telling about your life.
Everyone knows what it's like to have an awkward first date, regardless of how it was initiated, and often the instinctive “get away from me” vibe comes only when you meet in person. If a date does go drastically wrong, the information that you thought helped you appear honest and open can quickly become a stalker's playground.
This problem is not limited to the world of online dating; any person has the potential to be dangerous. However, most tips about dating and online safety tend to emphasize the Internet as an anonymous, safe place, and that precautions only need to be taken when meeting in person.
Today, that is simply not the case. It's often easier to find out more about a coworker or family friend from their Facebook than through face-to-face conversation.
Just this week, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Facebook will be tweaking some of their privacy options and settings, but his responsibility only goes so far. When it comes to personal information, especially about your job or family, remember to treat the Internet like you would a crowd in the grocery store – it's okay to hold back until you feel your trust has been earned.
To read reviews on some dating options for this Social Network, check out our Facebook Dating Applications list.
But should you add a potential date to your Facebook?
On one hand, checking out a date's Facebook might seem like a good idea. After all, dating involves the somewhat scary issue of safety, and any additional information you gather may help you make an informed decision.
On the other hand, your own Facebook page may be saying much more about you than you realize. Not only do many people have their places of work listed, some even include their addresses. Those “status updates” often say quite a bit about a person's daily routine. Even your friends' comments can be telling about your life.
Everyone knows what it's like to have an awkward first date, regardless of how it was initiated, and often the instinctive “get away from me” vibe comes only when you meet in person. If a date does go drastically wrong, the information that you thought helped you appear honest and open can quickly become a stalker's playground.
This problem is not limited to the world of online dating; any person has the potential to be dangerous. However, most tips about dating and online safety tend to emphasize the Internet as an anonymous, safe place, and that precautions only need to be taken when meeting in person.
Today, that is simply not the case. It's often easier to find out more about a coworker or family friend from their Facebook than through face-to-face conversation.
Just this week, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Facebook will be tweaking some of their privacy options and settings, but his responsibility only goes so far. When it comes to personal information, especially about your job or family, remember to treat the Internet like you would a crowd in the grocery store – it's okay to hold back until you feel your trust has been earned.
To read reviews on some dating options for this Social Network, check out our Facebook Dating Applications list.
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