The "Online Dating Expert" and Media
Last week I was contacted to participate in an interview with a reporter from Hampton Roads local ABC affliate WVEC regarding "Online Dating." It was my first time for something like this, and even though online dating isn't my primary research focus, almost all of my courses (e.g., Interpersonal Communication Theory, Conflict Management) cover how dating has been transformed (for better, and worse) by computer mediated communication (which includes online dating plaforms, texting, facetime/skype, social media and so on).
I would argue that it's impossible to teach an Interpersonal or Relational Communication class with the same materials or textbook from even 5 years ago. The hookup culture, tinder/grinder and other casual hookup apps, and even the lessening stigma attached to online meetups and hookups have both expanded our dating market and messed with our ideas of how available our options are.
There is actually interesting perspectives on this, especially how in the modern college student population a disporportionate number of women puts men in position where they have many options, and less impedious to commit. This is especially true if we're talking about high quality men (typically all mates are compared to each other by evaluations of status, physcial health & attractivness, and personality). This is evoluationary psychology theory stuff that maybe deserves it's own thread.
Anyway, so I was able to prep some opinions and then deliver about 20 minutes or so worth of commentary on the state of modern dating and our online experiences. Not being a diva here, but this translated to about 15 seconds worth of air time! Overall, Ashley Smith (an ODU communication graduate) did a great job with the report for her morning audience, and maybe I'll get an other opportunity down the road!
Link to the broadcast (Aired 02/11/16): http://bit.ly/1WqFZOx
A choppy, less quality version, but more permanent: http://screencast.com/t/39iYiRss
