By: Kyleigh Larkin;
Mosaic Staff Writer–
Media Credit: MCT Campugh Larkin
According to the Washington Post, statistics for 2012 report, out of the 54 million U.S. citizens residing in America, nearly 40 million have tried on-line dating. That is a staggering amount of people searching for love on the web. The newest technology created for dating, however, apps for the I-phone, may cause more harm than good. Not only can anyone have access to another’s personal information, but now ones location can be known as well. With the use of GPS, anyone registered to the same program will know who is single and how close they are. Such personal information, in the wrong hands, could be extremely dangerous. Therefore, instant dating apps created for the I-phone should be taken off the market.Some see the new dating programs as a way to get connected with others in their area. With technology, the difficulty usually attributed to finding another person who shares our common interests and lives nearby, can be simplified. According to CNN, the first app created for dating purposes, was made for the gay community. Grindr, as the app was named, helps gay men find others in their area. CNN writer, Heather Kelly, reports that since the apps debut, it “has been a global success, with 1.1 million daily active users in 192 countries.” As a result of so many users, the company, along with others, has begun making social networking apps for single heterosexuals as well. Many see the new apps as a great way to meet people, make friends, and even find a possible love connection. Malia, a user of Blendr, the networking app created for heterosexuals, reports to CNN that she loves the new app; “I catch happy hours with people, meet friends, maybe go on dates here and there…You meet lots of people who are very spontaneous.” For Malia and many others, these new networking programs are extremely helpful in forming connections. Recent evidence, however, shows more people see problems with dating apps than they do benefits.
Although programs like Grindr and Blendr have received large numbers of users since their unveilings, the number of men registered far exceeds that of women. Reasons for the uneven distribution of males to females on such sites include a fear, on the part of women, of making themselves vulnerable. NPR, a national media network, states that “women are afraid of being harassed if they use these apps.” Some fear the messages they’ll receive from complete strangers will be utterly offensive and crude; others claim that they are worried about their locations being knowledgeable to those they don’t know. Sarah Smith, a woman interviewed by NPR writer Lauren Silverman, exclaims ‘“It is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of…You’re just going to see a total increase in sexual assault and raping happening, because people can find out exactly where you are and exactly how many drinks you’ve had.”’ Smith is not the only one who has these fears, many women worry about the risks associated with others having total access to their personal information and whereabouts, and their reservations aren’t unfounded. Just this past June, 3 young girls, who were users of the new teenage dating app Skout, were deceived and raped by older men. Due to such reasons, instant dating apps can be extremely dangerous for its users.
As a regular user of social networking, I understand the advantages seen in using new programs like instant dating apps. As a young woman, however, I also see the serious risks attributed to applying to such sites, and would therefore never use one. Although the idea of having an easier time scouting the dating field is appealing, the dangers cannot be overlooked, for men and female alike. There is no guarantee the person talking to us is actually a good person, or that their personal information is accurate. The apps were created, I believe, with every intention of being helpful and safe for the users, but as evidence has shown, such a goal has yet to be achieved. With three reports of child-rape, how can the dangers of such programs be overlooked? Yes, these are only three specific cases and the users were young girls, but that does not mean there haven’t been other unreported cases, or that there won’t be any further incidents similar to those of the young girls. Love is certainly difficult to find, and technology, as the Washington Post has shown, has become a huge help for those searching for the perfect partner. The flaw is not in using technology to help find the person who is right for you, but in using these new apps. The dating programs created for cell phones are not safe enough yet. Willingly allowing strangers access to your personal information AND location is extremely dangerous; keeping ourselves, as well as our family and friends, safe should be our first priority, not finding a date. Until we can be absolutely certain that the risks associated with using dating apps have been resolved, the programs should be taken off of the market, or at the very least come with extensive warnings. The search for love isn’t worth the cost of our own well being.
