The importance of the therapist’s perception of the quality of online romantic relationships

Abstract

With the emergence and rise of online dating sites and dating apps, there has been an exponential growth in romantic relationships initiated and/or maintained online. In fact, in the recent years, following increasing usage of social networks, the most common way to meet a future spouse is online, and the popularity of this method is expected to increase even more. A recent estimate says that there are more than 320 million active users of dating apps worldwide.1 In addition to an interest in casual sex, many initiate and maintain romantic relationships, first through dating apps and then through other online media. While we used to assume that dating apps were predominantly a tool for arranging a physical meeting with another person, the Covid-19 pandemic proved us wrong because while it lasted the use of the app increased (instead of the expected decrease).2