When people have entered a more independent life, they begin to build their future, and part of it is finding someone they want to share their life with. Most relationships start in dating. It is where two people meet socially and spend time together to see if they are suitable for one another for a more intimate relationship. This has been the concept since the 18th century. However, dating has changed over the years as technology has emerged. Today, online dating has disrupted the more traditional ways of meeting romantic partners.
Online dating has changed the way people date. True enough that it is more convenient. However, there are risks associated with it. Meeting someone online isn’t safe. This dating app does not check the criminal background of its users. Research shows that 10% of sex offenders use dating sites, 1 in 10 users on free dating apps are scammers, and sexual assaults linked to online dating platforms have grown six-fold in the last five years
Number of murdered victims of Online Dating in the United States
There are as many as 100 murders a year, 16,000 abductions, and thousands of sexual assaults in the United States.
A social experiment has conducted by Chris Powers, enlisted by Crime Watch. Women tend to trust someone they have met online, making them more vulnerable to crimes such as murder, rape, theft, etc.
10% of sex offenders take advantage of online dating apps to look for victims.
Online dating apps are easy to access to look for their next victims, and because these apps lack background checks, it is easy for these perpetrators to execute their plans.
What percentage of US adults use dating apps?
40 million Americans use dating apps to find a relationship.
The influx of dating apps boosted the rate of couples who met online. According to a study, one in every ten American adults has used an online dating site or mobile dating app. Tinder is the most popular platform in the U.S, with nearly 7.86 million users.
According to Stanford research, 39% of American couples met through online dating in 2019
There was an increase of 22% of heterosexual couples who met online since 2009, corresponding to 39% of the American couples.
According to Stanford research, the traditional dating process has been declining since 1940.
The traditional way of meeting someone has been declining since 1940, as the dating world evolved into apps, websites, and online platforms. These change in dating behavior reveals a drastic change in the American view of marriage. A study conducted by the Pew Research Center of Social and Demographic Trends showed a decrease in marriages since 1960. In the 1960s 72% are married from 18-29 years old as opposed to today’s 51% of the same age group.
Which gender is most likely to be a victim of online dating murder?
Females are more vulnerable to online dating crimes.
About 90% of all homicides recorded worldwide are committed by men, and about 3% of online dating men are psychopaths. Most online perpetrators are men, and women are targeted more often because they are more vulnerable and trusting than men. The
What are the states that has the greatest number of victims?
Alaska ranked the most dangerous place to date online
Alaska’s danger score is twelve times higher than the safest state in the U.S. It is a daunting and perilous place to find an online date. According to the FBI report, Alaska got the highest rate of romance fraud in 2018.
Research shows that 19 states are considered dangerous to date online
About 38% of Americans are at risk of online dating crimes in America. 19 states are considered dangerous with a danger score higher than average, including the top 5 most dangerous states:
- Alaska
- Nevada
- California
- Florida
- Colorado
What Online dating sites are prone to Crimes?
All dating sites are prone to crimes.
There is no exception to all dating sites and apps because there is no criminal background check set up on these sites to check their users. However, most of these dating sites like Bumble and Tinder have their safety feature. These apps include message screening tools, a panic button to use on dates, and photo verification. They usually have an online Safety Center and customer service where you can report any form of harassment.
Dating websites and apps are liable for online crimes
These sites and apps do not bear a duty to warn users of potentially dangerous dates. They will not be held liable if the date turns violent unless they know the perpetrator’s criminal record and propensity for violence.
What are the other dangers of Online Dating?
Online dating dangers include various crimes
Dating sites has no verification procedures, such as criminal record checking, which leaves perpetrators a lot of room to break the law. Online dating risk is not limited to murders. It also t includes other types of crime such as abductions, thousands of sexual assaults, theft, etc. It also involves sexual risks, including pregnancy and STDs.
