The new online dating website, Peeked Interest, is raising some questions around privacy and security in an increasingly digital world.
Darryl McIvor, a recent graduate of the global business program at UVic, is teaming up with Frans Kouwenhoven, a UBC software engineering student, to introduce the new style of online courtship.
At this stage in development, the site is only open to people with a UBC email address. Content depends on registered users snapping anonymous photos of people they find attractive — on the bus, in the Student Union Building, or in the library — and then uploading those photos to the site. Others can then browse the online gallery, identifying any photos of themselves that they might come across.
The individual can then choose to either immediately click on ‘Report’, which will result in the photo being taken down from the site, or can confirm ‘This is Me’, putting them in touch with the person who posted the photo.
The idea is that people who might find approaching someone in person a little too intimidating can instead find solace behind the protection of their iPhone, hoping that the powers of curiosity and the Internet are enough to connect them with that special person. Critics of the site, however, are worried that encouraging people to take unsolicited photos of others, and furthermore suggesting that those unsolicited photos be posted online, borders on an invasion of online privacy.
Whether you think this style of e-dating verges on stalker-ish behaviour, or find yourself overcome with curiosity at the prospect of a secret admirer — the bottom line is that you should know how to date safely online before venturing onto this site or any other online dating forum. While it’s true that Peeked Interest is only available to individuals with UBC email addresses, it’s still important to be cautious of unwanted attention — even from fellow students.
Being aware of how to protect your online identity and privacy helps to ensure that you have a good experience with cyber-dating, guaranteeing that the connections you make are the connections you want.
Hey..
How come when you upload a profile, on 1 site, it is used on sites like mentioned above? I did not upload my profile on this site, but wow–
theres my profile tht I uploaded on a another site.. This is totaly wrong..
Any where that I can report this.
Hello, thank you for the comment. You should probably start by contacting the administrator of the dating site and requesting that your profile be removed. That might be able to offer you more information as to how your profile was posted. Good luck.