For my creative project on online dating, I have decided to evaluate the difference between the way people (specifically males) self-disclose online versus how people self-disclose in real life. From my research, I have gathered that there is a general consensus that most people are more likely to self-disclose more information about themselves online rather than in face-to-face contact. To test this theory, I have designed my roommate, Paige, an online profile on the online dating website www.okcupid.com. Here I will examine messages and the texts that people write to her without even knowing her. To test face-to-face self-disclosure, Paige, I, and a few friends hit the streets in downtown Athens. In this experiment we are working with complete strangers who know absolutely nothing about myself or Paige.
Displayed on the left is the profile that I designed for my roommate, Paige on www.okcupid.com, an online dating website. On this site all profiles are identical so that it is easy to manage the website. Everyone answers the same basic questions so that the website can automatically match you. On the left column you can see there is a message inbox. This is the way of communication between individuals for this particular site. Also displayed is the visitors. Visitors are those who visit your profile page. Within two hours of creating a profile for Paige, she had over 100 visitors.