Romance and the Internet: The E-Mergence of Edating

Abstract

This study explores the meaning and essence of a relatively new phenomenon-electronic (EDating) in regards to its relationships and effects on gender. In our phenomenology, we look at the Internet-based form of EDating via the experiences of college-aged singles in the U.S. First, we explore the emergence of the EDating Internet dating phenomenon with all preconceived experiences aside. We denote clusters of meanings from the words participants ascribe to the dating experience. Second, we examine the implications of Internet-based dating on the more traditional offline dating. Our article addresses these issues via a series of focus group interviews. The researchers interviewed college-aged singles in a sub-urban American city over the time span of twenty months. We assume human experience can be consciously expressed and explained through narrative description. We apply the Social Exchange Theory along with sociocultural, semiotic, and humanistic perspectives to understand and interpret emerging trends. We horizonalize statements, create units of meaning, compile themes, advance description, and integrate our data to an exhaustive analysis of Internet dating. We conclude that Internet dating does not replace existing rituals associated with dating. Nevertheless, the effects of technology are visible in modern dating rituals.