An Examination of Mate Selection in the Online Realm: Dating, Sex, and Marriage

The use of online matchmaking has increased dramatically over recent years and has become a popular means for individuals to find an intimate partner. While such online services have increased, the inherent variations across the different types of consumers and service providers have outpaced researchers' understanding of them. Further, the consequences of such services, for both individuals and the larger society, remain largely unknown. This edited volume features scholars around the globe to address the nature and complexities of online matchmaking. Looking specifically at online dating and its intersections with family life, topics covered in the chapters include those such as online dating and social skills, the consequences of mismatches in online matchmaking, the demography of online matchmaking, relationship development in the online realm, the impact of online matchmaking on marital quality and marital duration, sexual orientation and online matchmaking, and other related issues. Providing an international view, An Examination of Mate Selection in the Online Realm is appealing reading for scholars of family sociology, media sociology and youth studies.