Social media and online dating apps have changed how romantic relationships form and develop. They allow for quick judgments of profiles based on limited information like photos alone. Many now meet their significant others online, with some studies finding over half of future couples will meet this way. While online interactions can help form closeness, they also present risks if personal privacy is not maintained. Moderate self-presentation online may help relationships flourish both virtually and in real life.

1. A FLIPBOOK BY | EMILY LIU
Photo source: Unsplash, by Lauren Mancke

2. Social media platforms have caused changes in several
aspects of human interaction, including with those which
we are romantically involved with. It has enhanced our
connection with one another in all stages of our
relationships; from our first impressions to the capturing our
most vivid and valued memories.
ENHANCE . ROMANCE
Photo source: PicJumbo, “Listening to music in a bed” by Viktor Hanacek

3. ALL THE SINGLE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
Out of 35,851,774 Canadians
7,587,028 men and 6,658,591 women
are single.
That’s approximately 21% and 18% respectively.
[13].
Photo source: Unsplash, by Irene van der Poel

4. THE FIRST IMPRESSION
We judge people based on looks, proved
through our usage of apps like Tinder. A
pictured profile is worth more than a
thousand words. [9].
We judge one another’s personalities
online, through Facebook. Less visible
traits such as one’s openness is often
accurately judged online. [3].
Photo source: PicJumbo, “iPhone 5 in Black and White edir” by Viktor Hanacek

5. Photo source: Unsplash, by
Simon Hattinga Verschure

6. JUDGING AN ONLINE PROFILE
Subtle cues such as misspellings in the online environment are
important clues to one’s identity
For instance, one participant said she looked for
profiles that were well-written, because “I just
think if they can’t spell or … formulate
sentences, I would imagine that they’re not
that educated.” [4].
Photo source: Unsplash, by Luke Chesser

7. ONLINE DATING
• 15% of U.S adults report that they have used
online dating sites or mobile dating apps
• Of the 15%, 59% believe that it is a great way
to meet people, as of 2015 [14].
• Online dating is most popular amongst those ages
18-24 (27%) and 35-44 (21%) [14].
• 5% of Americans who are in a marriage or a
committed relationship say they met their
significant other online [14].
Photo source: PicJumbo, “Business Woman Working
on Laptop in Her Office” by Viktor Hanacek

8. TOP 10 DATING APPS
1. OkCupid
2. Tinder
3. Hinge
4. Coffee Meets
Bagel
5. Grindr
6. Match.com
7. PlentyOfFish
8. DragonFruit
9. HowAboutWe
10. Align [2].
TOP 10 DATING sites
1. Match.com
2. PlentyOfFish
3. Zoosk
4. OkCupid
5. eHarmony
6. Badoo
7. ChristianMingle
8. OurTime
9. DateHookup
10. BlackPeopleMeet [17].
Photo source: PicJumbo, “Minimalist Evening Sea Horizon” by Viktor Hanacek

9. A CLOSER LOOK AT
§ 53% of Tinder’s audience is between 18 and 24.
§ The mobile app has grown to be the third-­‐
most popular in the United States since
launching in September 2012.
§ The average Tinder user spends an astonishing
77 minutes a day on the app [7].
Photo source: Unsplash, by JD Mason
TINDER

10. FALLING IN LOVE THROUGH TECH
Experiment with 32 paired up
individuals, allowing 55 minutes of
conversation through text:
• 81% of participants exchanged
contact information at the end
of the conversation [10].
• 47% said they would contact their
partner [10].
• 16% reported feeling the same
level of closeness to their
partner as they do to the closet
person in their lives [10].
50%find it
easier to discuss personal
topics through text. [10].
By 2040, a projected 70% of
couples will meet online [10].
Photo source: Smack Bang Designs, “The Emotional Connection” by Tess

11. GOING “FACEBOOK OFFICIAL”
40% of those in their 20’s said they wouldn’t put a
relationship status on Facebook. [15].
71% of those in relationships go Facebook official
once, in the first flush of romance, until the social
embarrassment of the online break-up [6].
Photo Souce: by Monisha, http://un-fathomable.tumblr.com/

12. FACEBOOK’S IMPACT
ON ROMANCE
Couples who post more about their relationship on
Facebook report being happier and feeling more
secure.
The opposite is also true: less interaction online
results in less closeness offline. [9].
‘The couple who Facebooks
together stays together’
Photo source: PicJumbo, “Love Heart Coffee Cups with Roses and Rose Leafs” by Viktor Hanacek

13. VIRTUAL SOCIAL
CONNECTION
can provide a buffer against
stress and pain.
SOCIAL SNACKING: the
element of distance and forced
imagination
[8].
Photo source: Unsplash, by
Tamara Menzi

14. IN A 2009 STUDY:
A painful stimulus hurt less when a
woman either held her boyfriend’s hand
or looked at his picture; the pain-dulling
effects of the picture were, in fact,
twice as powerful as physical
contact.[8].
Photo source: Original by Emily Liu

15. ISSUES WITH FACEBOOK
There's also the problem of separation
between online identity and the lives we
maintain in the physical world, which is hard
to bridge. Facebook posts are relentlessly
cheerful.[1].
Photo source: PicJumbo, “Facebook app login slash screen on iPhone”
by Viktor Hanacek

16. RISKS WITH ONLINE DATING
Privacy
• A high amount of personal information online. In 2012, over a million
user passwords were stolen
• “Young apps don’t prioritize security and safety” – Jonathan Mayer,
computer scientist and lawyer affiliated with Stanford's Center for
Internet and Society [12].
Photo source: PicJumbo, “Hand heart love by the sea” by Viktor Hanacek

17. RISKS (CONTINUED)
THE MOTIVE
• 10% of sex offenders use online dating to meet
people [16].
• The FBI received 6,000 complaints about
“confidence fraud and romance” from people who
reported being swindled out of a total of over $82
million. [12].
Photo source: PicJumbo, “Beautiful
woman enjoying Morning Relax in Bed”,
by Vikor Hanacek

18. Photo source: Unsplash, by Crew
1. Be completely honest in your profile and photo,
don’t lie about your personality
2. Protect your identity and anonymity, don’t
provide too much personal information
3. Take your time getting to know someone on-
line. Studies show that relationships develop faster
online.
4. Arrange to meet in a public setting
5. Publicize the amount of your relationship on
Facebook to a degree that makes you
comfortable, you do not have to go
“Facebook Official” to make the relationship official
[11].
TIPS FOR SUCCESS

19. Social media has altered the stages of romantic relationships, from initiating to
experimenting, intensifying and bonding. As emergent technologies continue to
permeate our personal relationships we must recognize its role (allowing
relationships to escalate, persevere or decline) as it provides access to constantly
gather, interpret and evaluate information about potential, current and past
romantic partners [6].
The changes in modern love
Photo source: PicJumbo,"Girl blowing bubbles in the sunset evening”, by Viktor Hanacek

20. References
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[6]. Fox, J., K. M. Warber, and D. C. Makstaller. The Role of Facebook in Romantic
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[8]. Konnikova, Maria. How Facebook Makes Us Unhappy. The New Yorker. N.p., 10 Sept.
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[9].Matrix, Sidneyeve, “Module 02 iFriends”. Vimeo. N.p., 2016. Web. 03 June
2016.
[10]. McGuire, S. (2016, February 03). Can You Fall In LoveWith Someone
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[11]. Orbuch, Terri. "Nine Key Tips for Dating Online Safely and Successfully."
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[12]. Peterson, Andrea. Online Dating Is More Normal than Ever. But It Also
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[13]. Population by marital status and sex. (n.d.). Retrieved June03, 2016, from
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/famil01-eng.htm
[14]. Smith, A., & Anderson, M. (2016, February 29). 5 facts about onlinedating.
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[15]. Speed, Barbara. Facebook Official: TheRise and Fall of the Relationship
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[17]. Top 15 Most Popular Dating Websites | June 2016. (n.d.). Retrieved June
03, 2016, from http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/dating-websites
Pboto source: Unsplash, by Julia Janeta