The intersection between the Internet and social interactions in the contemporary generation has been built upon the advancement of Social Network Services (SNS) being deeply permeated in mundane life. Among these platforms have spread online dating services throughout the world with the help of cutting-edge AI-based matching technologies. They feature increasingly simple and convenient services to build casual or even more serious relationships and these merits have played a significant role in the growing demand for online dating in Korea. However, the online dating market has frequently seen critical risks for potential users under the anonymity of the Internet and the lack of in-app properties to offset safety concerns. Hidden behind the masks of fake profiles, some users do not hesitate to take advantage of the personal information of other users victimized for internet frauds and sexual harassment.
Online dating practices have spawned pervasive online scams that target random users. Although it may seem like such deceptions are of an outdated and trite approach, it is increasingly hard to tell if the counterpart for a prospective relationship is underway for a disguised purpose. This is attributable to fake daters using cunning tactics to make stories and build trust enough to numb the sanity of victims. So-called “Romance Scammers” often attempt to tell lies about their occupations and motives, which the former frequently includes a military sergeant and a doctor at an international organization and the latter entails bogus narratives that they need some cash for a plane ticket, a visa, and a surgery or other medical expenses. As victims keep communicating with the scammer, they easily become credulous and finally feel tempted to grant any requests from a new significant other. In fact, it was demonstrated in a report that this approach proliferates across online dating platforms. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that money losses from online dating scams were estimated to be $201 million in 2020, which have increased up to 6 times since 2015. This can be accounted for technological vulnerabilities of online dating services to filter potential scammers despite security mechanisms practiced by the platforms. It was observed in research that existing reviews and surveys on dating apps typically do not involve cybersecurity or forensic focus to accommodate the privacy of the users. Hence, it is clear that online dating frauds thrive in between the deliberate preferences of users and the technology gap that threatens cybersecurity.
Another risk of online dating addresses varied levels of sexual harassment that happen both in a virtual and physical realm. This can be explained by potential criminals exploiting a larger pool of victims and encountering certain users who are willing to share personal and sensitive information with strangers. In such a circumstance, one may easily come to a conclusion that the authorities should enforce strong legalizations to punish the criminals. However, underlying patterns on the dating apps demonstrate that the pace of a relationship is directly associated with the success of a match (Choi, Wong, & Fong, 2018). Therefore, it is likely that the common features provided in dating services largely contribute to convenience and openness that result in technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV). In addition, some in-app properties referred to as real-time geolocation, allow users to match others in close proximity at the same time. Although having been devised for user satisfaction, these physical tracking services have cleared the way for criminals to follow the target in a highly accurate and convenient manner. As the culprits almost exclusively take the advantage of the existing in-app features for general use, the risk of getting caught would be significantly low unlike cyberstalking. As a consequence, sexual crimes are practically a byproduct of technological flaws caused by a misdesigned initiative of current dating apps.
On a positive note, it is probable that online dating experiences can truly contribute to building relationships if combined with other innovative technologies. However, it is important to keep an eye on rising security issues and privacy concerns to prevent further increase of victims instead of penalizing the offenders. The fact that not only do these problems emerge in the virtual world but also, in reality, should be fully recognized by every steakholder that experiences the benefits of online dating.
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