Relationships Behind the Screen...

Many teenagers have or know of someone who has had an experience with online dating, however, Tinder has recently put a ban on under 18s using their dating site. This is because of the increasing dangers of minors being catfished by older predators. Nowadays, technology helps predators not only to lie about their identity but to also to find out personal information through social media. Snapchat has dangerous features such as snap maps, allowing you to share your location with anyone you accept on your Snapchat account. Although this is a dodgy and creepy setting, there is an option called ghost mode that means no one can see you on the map; it's like you are a ghost. 

Reasons people catfish... 

• Insecurities: people catfish for the chance to be a different person, to have a new identity. They might use other people's photos because they feel ugly or not good enough. They get a chance to hide behind a screen and be liked by people who would not usually like them.
• Boredom: Many people catfish because they are bored with their own life and want to take someone else's more interesting identity. 
• Revenge: People can hide behind a screen and manipulate others as a form of revenge on an ex, a past friend or someone important in their life who has hurt them.  
• Insecurity: They might feel they are not good enough and that people won't like them for who they are, so they use dating websites as a chance to be someone else, someone more exciting.  

A 15 year old girl found a 16 year old boy, they both thought they were perfect for each other.  Talking via Instagram, Snapchat and of course Tinder, they decided to meet at a public place. They decided when and where, and each brought a friend. Both were who they said they were; however, they were both looking for different things in a relationship. The boy simply wanted something casual or a one-night stand with no strings attached and the girl was looking for something more long term. At the time she didn’t know the differences of what they each wanted. They went ahead with the relationship, believing they each had what they were looking for. 

She soon found out that she going to be a teen mum. She believed that the boy would support her, and she told him with confidence. However, he told her they only had a casual relationship and that she was not the only one. He then told her that she should get an abortion, and that it was mainly his decision. The girl and her family felt differently and decided that she should keep the baby. He eventually decided he should move away from this "problem". 

This story had an enormous impact on this girl and there are many others who have gone through a similar experience to her.

After sending out a survey on online dating to people aged between eleven and eighteen, many results have come in with a variety of different thoughts and opinions. Some people said they liked to use the app to meet people for a hookup or something unconditional. Although they were thinking responsibly and said that using a dating app such as Tinder was not for younger teens and that it is best to wait until you are eighteen as there are many older people that use the app for a different purpose. They do however recommend the idea of online dating if you are careful.

However, many people also believe that online dating is not a good way to get into a relationship successfully. They see it as a way for people to hide their identity and manipulate minors into thinking they made a bad decision that could lead to long term effects. 

Catfishing is a serious topic and when there are underaged children using the same dating apps as older predators, many see it as an unsafe environment. That is partially the reason that Tinder moved to an under eighteen ban. 

There are ways to attempt or lower the risk of child endangerment, or just endangerment in general when dating apps are being used. Here are eight signs that you are being catfished: 

• The relationship progress is happening at a very quick pace
• The person never wants to show you their face 
• Social media usage is sparse 
• They ask for money 
• Everything about the relationship seems too good to be true 
• Their “job” sends them around the world 
• Proper grammar is lacking 
• They make up elaborate stories 

There were also many neutral survey responses with positive and negative opinions about online dating. Some said that they know someone or have a friend that has or is currently using online dating to have themselves a successful relationship, whereas they wouldn’t personally use it for themselves. Others said they think people that are a part of the LGBT community would prefer to use online dating, especially as teenagers, because they may struggle to find someone who has come out to their family and friends about their sexuality.  

In conclusion, putting yourself out there on dating websites at a young age comes with a lot of dangers but there is also a chance of meeting the person you have been waiting for!