It's true that many people do form relationships online and then choose to move their friendship and/or romance offline into reality. Seeing that I don't personally know any couple that met online and continued their relationship in reality, I'm going to analyze the commercials for eharmony.com and match.com.
Both of these sites offer members the chance to create profiles that can be seen by other members. Each person can compare themselves with others who they feel they have the potential to really connect with through similar interests and backgrounds. When it comes to CMC, the Hyperpersonal Model can be applied because people rate others on fewer characteristics (because people choose what specific information to disclose on the internet profiles) and these ratings are therefore more intensified and exaggerated. The Hyperpersonal Model is composed of over-attribution processes, developmental aspects, selective self-presentation, re-allocation of cognitive resources and behavioral confirmation.
Because people only list selective information on their profiles, the information they share is managed. Even though, sites like eHarmony and match.com say that the information shared is enough to form a strong bond. The couples on the commercials stand to prove this, saying that they never believed they could find such love online (many met through the sites and moved on to marrying in real life).
Personally, I don't think I would make an account on such sites in hopes of finding my soulmate, but some of my friends have made profiles for fun just to see what the experience is all about. I believe that connections through CMC and dating sites can lead to lasting relationships, but such are few and far between.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment