Getting it [on]line : sociological implications of e-dating

This article explores the role of sociology in understanding the phenomenon of\ud online dating. Based on an examination of our qualitative study of 23 online\ud daters, combined with the findings of the small number of other empirical studies\ud available, we argue that further sociological consideration of the online dating\ud phenomenon is required to: illuminate the social conditions informing these\ud activities; enhance knowledge of if, and how, online technologies mediate intimate\ud connections; and advance a critically informed understanding of the nature\ud of intimacy in a global era