Internet Relationships: People Who Meet People

Abstract

Current research suggests that the Internet has become a popular medium for forming interpersonal relationships. Not only are many people developing cyberfriendships, but some move beyond virtual communication and interact more directly through telephone contact and face-to-face encounters. This pilot study examined the personality characteristics of 30 participants (17 men and 13 women) who were regular Internet users and who had used the Internet to meet people mainly through chat rooms. The findings of this study suggest that people who use the Internet meet others tend to be truthful in general in their interactions although both men and women often did not reveal their true names. Eighty percent of the subjects formed casual or friendly relationships, whereas 6% formed intimate or romantic relationships. Approximately one-third of the subjects made some form of offline contact, with 40% talking on the telephone and 33.3% meeting face-to-face. Furthermore, examination of personality styles indicated that cyberfriends tend to be socially skilled, have strong verbal skills, and demonstrate empathy for others. Most subjects were careful about protecting their anonymity, and none of the subjects who met face-to-face did so without first talking on the phone. This suggests that individuals who make friends via the Internet tend to take appropriate precautions and find this medium an effective and safe way to interact with others and to expand one's social system.