The chances of two people feeling a special attraction and an interpersonal spark (i.e. “chemistry”), are comparatively greater in a digital environment than offline. Do you agree or disagree, and why?
In a digital environment, it is easier to feel “chemistry” with others than it is offline, despite physical barriers. In fact, the lack of physical intimacy and immediate response is a large part in why it is so easy to feel attraction online. Sociologist Mary Chayko believes online relationships are more “durable” due to an emphasis on shared interests and character qualities rather than physical qualities.
As deeper connections form, we tend to project onto one another. Chayko says it is common to project onto individuals the qualities we want them to have. The “absence of visual cues” enhances this process and accelerates the progression of a relationship. In other words, we create an image of someone and fall in love with the idea of them, rather than who they really are. We do this both online and offline, but in a digital environment, people have the ability to shape themselves into something that they are not. People have the ability to edit aspects of themselves to appear how they would like to be perceived, further enforcing the characteristic we project onto them.
In a way, dating online is like stepping into a virtual reality. The chemistry can be too good to be true. It’s important to remember that what we see online is only one face of a three dimensional thing.
Digital Culture 