Risks of finding love online

By ANTHONY KAGIRI

Technology is changing the way we do things and this modernity bug has also struck love.

We used to find love in social places such as church, weddings, parties or at work, but now people are finding it online.

Take for example James and Jane Kareu who got married in April. Theirs was a unique wedding having met and dated for sometime on Facebook. The two who are committed Christians choose not to reveal their identity given the stigmatisation their meeting would attract in their church.

“I found Jane’s profile and sent her a friend request, which she accepted. We started chatting and I found her interesting to talk to. Slowly we started connecting,” says James of their meeting.

Social media avenues such as Facebook and Twitter have become easy places to meet people, almost effortlessly. As you work, the necessary distraction that is social media provides you the perfect opportunity of finding people. Pop ups of ‘people you may know’ easily lure and their attractive photos add to the temptation. Dating sites and hook-ups over the radio are also becoming popular ways of finding love. However, this new avenues have numerous risks and have brought pain to some people.

Take Daniela Wafula, for example. She received a friend request from this handsome looking man (according to his Facebook profile picture). Their online friendship blossomed pretty fast and a few weeks down the line, the guy who lived in a different town, was insisting on visiting her.

“He had a way with words and I couldn’t help falling for him, even though I hadn’t met him. Although I was nervous, I was looking forward to meeting the charming prince,” says Daniela.

The meeting would, however, turn tragic as the person who came was very different from the man she had seen on Facebook.

“He looked totally different from the model-like photos on Facebook and looked twice in age,” says a heartbroken Daniela adding that she no longer accepts Facebook friend requests from strangers.

Dangers

The first danger of meeting people online and falling for them is that you are never sure what they portray online is their true self. Online dating exposes one to the?looks of people rather than the deeper traits, which are sure foundation for love.

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