(Online Dating Industry Journal) Dr. James Houran has published an article, in Online Dating Magazine's Online Dating Industry section, that examines the media's recent role in bringing a negative stigma to online dating. The article looks at some research and recent stories by media that tend to like to publicize the "dark side" of online dating.
From the article:
"...I participate in media interviews constantly and have the chance to educate the public and the media on the pros and cons of online dating. Yes, there are some pitfalls with online dating and those rightfully should be acknowledged. I’m speaking of issues like dishonest profiles, online predators, forming attachments too quickly and acting upon them too blindly. But my sense is that the media sometimes tries very hard to create conflict where there really isn’t conflict, dramatize exceptions to rules to sell stories grounded in fear and to play Devil’s Advocate in unproductive ways. Online dating continues to be an easy target, and I believe there are..."
Click here to read the full article.
Joe's Comments
I agree with most of what Dr. James Houran has to say in this article. The media does tend to focus on the "dark side" of online dating. I was once contacted by E! to do a segment in their THS Investigates Online Nightmares documentary (which I appear in). Now get set for the follow-up, specifically focusing on online dating nightmares. Media tend to focus on the more negative sensationalized aspects of online dating that affect an extremely small percentage of online daters. But by keeping the focus on the negative, they tend to increase the negative stigma that those who haven't tried online dating have.
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