While I'm blogging about the new ways in which teenagers are connecting with popular culture, it would be remiss to miss out something that has changed as dramatically as dating. In my day you had to talk to a girl, and suffer all of the jitters and excitement that comes from that face to face encounter - for better or for worse! But now an astonishing number of young people are connecting through the use of apps, some of which match them with potential partners with the swipe of a button.
Although Tinder and most other dating apps are designed for users ages 18 and over, there are some apps - such as Yubo, which are specifically designed for adolescents, aged 12 and up. Also, with the help of a fake Facebook profile, it's easy enough for teens to sign up to Tinder and other dating sites using an incorrect date of birth, and many do (Francis, 2019). Legal or not, teenagers are using dating apps - and other apps not specifically designed for dating - to get together online.
A change in popular dating styles, however, has led to a change in dating culture. While there are upsides to online dating, such as the ability to connect with a greater range of potential partners outside of school or work (Siewert, 2018), as well as teens feeling less pressure and more confident, online dating is far more sexualised (Essig, 2019). Although teens profess to wanting romantic love, many report participating in the 'online hookup' scene because they feel like that's just the modern culture of dating (Siewart, 2018). In 2015 in the Asia Pacific region, an upsurge in the incidence of HIV infections in 10-19 year olds was linked to casual sex resulting from dating app introductions (Clark, 2015). Another concern is the development of cyber abuse within relationships, with constant smart phone use and applications making stalking, harassing and controlling partners more accessible (Zweig, Dank, Yahner & Lachman, 2013). These aspects of online dating make it sound like something to avoid, however, there are many situations where people have met online and developed happy, trusting and enduring relationships.
My sister in law and cousin both met their now spouses online. One through a dating app, and another through mutual friends on Facebook. While in both cases I was initially skeptical - having met and married my wife before either of us even had Facebook accounts and feeling some suspicion towards online dating - they are both wonderfully happy, and obviously there are many thousands more happy couples who met online. So it is with all technology, I feel like being in control is the key.
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| (Image from Giphy, 2019) |
Although Tinder and most other dating apps are designed for users ages 18 and over, there are some apps - such as Yubo, which are specifically designed for adolescents, aged 12 and up. Also, with the help of a fake Facebook profile, it's easy enough for teens to sign up to Tinder and other dating sites using an incorrect date of birth, and many do (Francis, 2019). Legal or not, teenagers are using dating apps - and other apps not specifically designed for dating - to get together online.
A change in popular dating styles, however, has led to a change in dating culture. While there are upsides to online dating, such as the ability to connect with a greater range of potential partners outside of school or work (Siewert, 2018), as well as teens feeling less pressure and more confident, online dating is far more sexualised (Essig, 2019). Although teens profess to wanting romantic love, many report participating in the 'online hookup' scene because they feel like that's just the modern culture of dating (Siewart, 2018). In 2015 in the Asia Pacific region, an upsurge in the incidence of HIV infections in 10-19 year olds was linked to casual sex resulting from dating app introductions (Clark, 2015). Another concern is the development of cyber abuse within relationships, with constant smart phone use and applications making stalking, harassing and controlling partners more accessible (Zweig, Dank, Yahner & Lachman, 2013). These aspects of online dating make it sound like something to avoid, however, there are many situations where people have met online and developed happy, trusting and enduring relationships.
My sister in law and cousin both met their now spouses online. One through a dating app, and another through mutual friends on Facebook. While in both cases I was initially skeptical - having met and married my wife before either of us even had Facebook accounts and feeling some suspicion towards online dating - they are both wonderfully happy, and obviously there are many thousands more happy couples who met online. So it is with all technology, I feel like being in control is the key.
As a father, the idea of my son or daughter beginning to date someone online is scary! - but then, I think the idea of them beginning to date someone...is scary. We need to teach our young people self respect, common sense and good values, and then trust them to make right choices, no matter what their dating context looks like. And while I thank my lucky stars I am safely married and have no need to worry about how to meet someone in 2019, kids these days are savvy, and well equipped to handle whatever the internet throws at them next!
References
BBC. (2016). Tinder is stopping teenagers from using the dating app. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36488102/tinder-is-stopping-teenagers-from-using-the-dating-app
BBC. (2016). Tinder is stopping teenagers from using the dating app. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36488102/tinder-is-stopping-teenagers-from-using-the-dating-app
Clark, J. (2015). Mobile dating apps could be driving HIV epidemic among adolescents in Asia Pacific, report says. BMJ: British Medical Journal (online), 351(1). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.h6493
Essig, L (2019). Love, inc: Dating apps, the big white wedding, and chasing the happily never after. Oakland, California: University of California Press.
Francis, L. (2019) Tinder dating among teens: When swipe-right culture goes to high school. Retrieved from https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/tinder-dating-teens-use-app-for-sex-relationships/
Essig, L (2019). Love, inc: Dating apps, the big white wedding, and chasing the happily never after. Oakland, California: University of California Press.
Francis, L. (2019) Tinder dating among teens: When swipe-right culture goes to high school. Retrieved from https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/tinder-dating-teens-use-app-for-sex-relationships/
Rosen, R. (2018). Teens on Tinder. Retrieved from https://parentinfo.org/article/teens-on-tinder
Siewart, A. (2018). Adolescent relationship development, mobile dating applications, and bodily safety: A phenomenological exploration. (Degree of Doctor of Psychology, The Chacago School of Professional Psychology). Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/docview/2172417956?pg-origsite=primo
Zweig, J.M., Dank, M., Yahner, J., & Lachman, P. (213). The rate of cyber dating abuse among teens and how it relates to other forms of teen dating violence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(7), 1063-1077.
Siewart, A. (2018). Adolescent relationship development, mobile dating applications, and bodily safety: A phenomenological exploration. (Degree of Doctor of Psychology, The Chacago School of Professional Psychology). Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/docview/2172417956?pg-origsite=primo
Zweig, J.M., Dank, M., Yahner, J., & Lachman, P. (213). The rate of cyber dating abuse among teens and how it relates to other forms of teen dating violence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(7), 1063-1077.
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