According to a new study published in the journal, Evidence Based Medicine, when picking a username for online dating, you shouldn’t use your real name if it starts with the lower half of the alphabet. This study was designed with the goal of finding out what would be the best online courtship. In particular, this was focused on how people online convert digital communication into face-to-face communication. The big question here is why should one keep their name out of their username, if for example their name is Sarah? Results show that there is a correlation between people with higher levels of education/income and names that are higher up in the alphabet. I found this study surprising because I didn’t think if you had a common name such as Sarah or Sam, you would have to avoid using your real name for a better chance of finding someone compatible online. I was surprised that people would ‘overlook’ the name just because it’s in the bottom half of the alphabet. Researchers also suggest to avoid having usernames with negative connotations such as ‘little or ‘bug’ and instead use playful usernames such as “fun2bewith.” I thought it was interesting that the study suggested to use ‘playful’ names because one could easily misinterpret a playful name for a sexual name, which could send the wrong message about yourself to future daters. I think that changing your username to more ‘playful’ can off as using identity play because in reality, someone might have a more calm and mellow personality. A ‘playful’ username can suggest someone to be have an outgoing and more ‘out there’ personality. Therefore, this can mislead others.
This article brought up that women wearing red clothing in their pictures spark more of an interest and so do taking photos of yourself ‘genuinely smiling’ with your eyes crinkled and head tilted. Also, coming up with a ‘headline’ for your dating profile that’s witty and doesn’t use complex language can spark even more interest. I personally do not online date and agree that these tips could be helpful and effective for those looking for a partner online. At the same time, I think these tips may somewhat suggest you to not be ‘yourself’ online and if I were to date online, I would not want anyone to have any false connotations about myself. I also think it all depends on what you’re looking for online as some people are looking for a serious relationship and others are looking for a ‘hook up.’ I think these tips are geared more towards those that are looking for a ‘hook-up’ online, although the study wasn’t specific on relationship types studied. This study relates to us talking about electronic tattoos in class on Wednesday and how everything we do or post online is an ‘electronic tattoo.’ Our usernames, headlines, and photos we share with others are all electronic tattoos. I am very careful about what I put on social networks for these reasons, as everything online can be easily misinterpreted.
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