Now more than ever, the internet and social media influence teens’ romantic relationships. According to the Pew Research Center, 24% of all teens say they’ve dated or hooked up with someone they met online.
Apps like “Instagram” and “Snapchat” are present in the online dating world, especially for teens. They are a space for teens to connect with friends, share their photos, and notably start full relationships.
This can be good for teens, opening up their social circles, creating low-pressure relationships and allowing them to contact their partners at any time of the day.
But online dating has its dangers. The We Protect Global Alliance found that 65% of Gen Z teens or young adults say they or one of their friends has been catfished on an internet or social media platform.
Catfishing is when someone intentionally creates a fake online persona to trick others into believing they are real.
“I mean, one obvious disadvantage would be they might not be putting on their actual persona,” junior Beloved Morakinyo said. “They could be lying to you.”
The internet also allows online pedophiles to target an entire sea of victims.
“You just have to be aware of who you’re talking to and how old they are,” junior Jack Bradley said.
Teenagers have been engulfed in the online world for most of their lives. They know more than other generations the safety precautions needed if they plan on meeting in person with their online partner.
“I think that you should first see if they have any mutuals with the person you are trying to meet up with,” senior Elle Bryant said. “Also, do background research on the person, or even ask them questions to ensure they are genuine.”
There is still always the question of whether or not the person you are talking to online will be the same after getting to know them in person, no matter how convincing they may be.
“You never really know what you are truly in for when meeting someone online and never know the truth until you are in person,” Bryant said.
Romantic relationships are common in high school and no different from relationships starting online. It could be adding a mutual friend on Snapchat or following someone on Instagram. According to the Pew Research Center, 47% of teens have expressed their romantic interest by liking, commenting on, or interacting with someone on social media.
“I texted my girlfriend on Instagram by sliding up on her story,” Bradley said. “I was nervous to approach her in person.”
Many students believe online dating is not the way to go for teens.
“I think depending on if they meet them through an actual dating app or just a few mutuals on Snapchat determines that,” Bryant said. “I think teens on a dating app are unnecessary because I feel like you should just be going out into the world and meeting a person you connect with in the real world, not just through an app.”
There are many different levels of online dating in the modern world. Whether it be a full-blown, fully online relationship or a DM that started a long-term in-person relationship, the role of the internet in personal relationships is often overlooked.
The internet makes it easy for teens to idolize people they’ve never met, causing them to overlook romantic opportunities that may be right in front of them. Social media and the internet also make it easy for couples only to post the best parts of their relationships.
“People believe too much of what the internet has to say about someone’s relationship,” Morakinyo said.
However, online dating can lead to meaningful long-term relationships for teens. Teens are more capable of using technology and have adjusted to meeting romantic partners online.
Social media can also heavily overcomplicate relationships; it can add many new factors into relationships that teens in the past never had to think about.
“It’s like people make everything such a big deal. If you get caught liking another post, it’s a big deal,” Bryant said.
Online dating is increasing, but the number isn’t growing. The question remains whether teens will take the risk in the name of romance.
