According to the article "The Internet Goes to College," A Pew Internet & American Life Project, about one in every five college students say they have formed a relationship online before meeting someone in person. While this may indicate that college students use the Internet as a means of making friends, it is more likely that they are meeting people on campus online before meeting them in person.
Further evidence that college students are at least somewhat cautious about online relationships can be found in their attitude toward using the Internet to search for a roommate. Ninety-four percent said they had never looked for a roommate online.
Ball State senior telecommunications major David Lightfoot is one of the college students who has had online dating experiences. "I would say that my first online dating experience was the worst because of the distance," Lightfoot said.
"The girl I was dating at the time was from Cincinnati, and obviously I was in Muncie," he said. "We chatted online everyday from the time I got back from classes to when I went to bed. It was a decent relationship."
A study published in College Student Journal, "Downloading Love: A Content Analysis of Internet Personal Advertisements Placed By College Students," examined the contents of 100 Internet personal ads placed by college students. Results from the survey showed that white males who were in the beginning or at the end of their college careers placed the most ads.
The article also noted, "For over twenty years now, researchers have been using personal ads
to study what people are willing to disclose about themselves and what they are seeking in others." The researchers said people tend to place ads that fit with sexual stereotypes. For example, women are more likely to express interest in financial security, sensitivity and sense of humor while men are more likely to seek an attractive sexual partner.
Lightfoot has learned much from his online dating experience. He said the long-distance online relationships require a high level of trust.
"Besides, the only thing you're probably in love with is the picture that they show you," he said, "and chances are it's probably not them."
Lightfoot chatted with people in Yahoo chat rooms and then transferred the conversation to one of the instant messengers.
Like other net surfers, Lightfoot has discovered one of the advantages of the Internet.
"I found that chatting online is easier to do for people who are extremely shy like I used to be," he said. Lightfoot said it's easier because people don't have to be themselves. "They can be another person, so to speak."
"You don't have to be the 'TV-watching, Internet-surfing, game-show guru' type person; instead you can be the 'romantic, persuasive, say-anything-to-impress-someone' type of person. You can create your own fantasy world where anything can happen creatively."
Despite his past adventures in the world of online dating, Lightfoot is clear to point out that he met his current girlfriend offline.
In an article from Rutgers University's Daily Targum titled, "Let's Get it Online," people who have set up online accounts to "hook up" are hard to find because they don't want to admit to it.
Online dating, much like traditional dating, can be just like the movie title, "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly": It sometimes takes weeding out the latter two to find the good.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
