Today internet has brought back computer mediated matchmaking. However, the veracity of this system soon became questionable, and at least one of the early companies was successfully persecuted and shut down (Hardey, 2002, p.571). Growing in popularity, the idea soon spread to private companies in both the US and Germany (Hardey, 2002, p.571). The use of information technology for finding and meeting new partners can be traced back to the mid 1960s, when attempts to use data from questionnaires, to match couples through the use of computers, were made in the United States (Hardey, 2002, p.571). This paper will attempt to answer the following research questions: How common is cyber-dating amongst Egyptian youths? What are the reasons why Egyptian youths resort to the internet for finding romance? What are the effects of cyber-relationships on Egyptian youths? Are there any gender differences in Egyptian youths’ use of the internet for finding and pursuing romantic relationships? Literature Review Thus, most AUC students are likely to fit both the age and socio-economic criteria.
A purposive sample for this study has been drawn from the American University in Ca iro AUC, one of Egypt’s most prestigious and expensive universities. This paper will test a hypothesis that cyber -dating is now commonly practiced by Egyptian youths of the higher socio-economic class.
Furthermore, several dating and match-making sites are now used by Arab youths, bringing to mind the old days where matchmaking was a paid service performed by particular ladies called "khatba" at the request of Arab families. The internet offers youths the opportunity to ‘virtually’ meet members of the opposite sex through chat programs like ICR, ICQ and MSN, where they can talk instantaneously for hours without fear of social exposure. As a matter of fact, in some the couple only meets once before the announcement of the engagement, throughout which they meet scarcely and chaperoned.
In many communities, traditional marriage is the norm. Nothing could be more controversial than internet’s use in marriage and dating.Īrab societies are very conservative where mixing of the sexes is concerned. As much as Arabs hope to come up to date with the fast changing world, they justifiably fear for the social and cultural fabric of their society. In fact, the internet has now become an important player on the love and dating scene, as it is used by many to find love and initiate relationships online.Įver since the internet’s introduction to the Arab world, it has been shrouded in controversy. Social interaction has now become the primary use of home computers (McKenna, 1999, p.2). The internet’s role in our social lives is growing by the day. Graduate Student American University in Cairo *Corresponding Author: Injy Galal
0 kommentar(er)
