The Aftab Shraddha case has shaken the entire nation to the core. While the aspect of love jihad is being proficiently discussed, it is important to talk about the other aspect too. It is the spreading menace of online dating apps.
Indians took the western route to be modern and the popularity of dating apps can be attributed to the same. The use of dating apps was a deeply ingrained feature of American society and has become quite popular among the young generation in the Asian region too. However, the same applications that attract youngsters in the name of adventure could be life-threatening. The Shraddha Aftab case is an evident example of the same.
The Shraddha Aftab case sheds light on the menace of dating apps
Shraddha Walker is no longer among us. She was brutally murdered, chopped into pieces and disposed of by a man she had met on an online dating app, Aftab Poonawala. They met through the online dating app Bumble in 2019. Both then moved to Delhi from Mumbai.
As per reports, the Bumble story did not end there. Poonawala met another woman on the same app and started dating her, merely after 20 days of killing Shraddha. He brought the woman home frequently, while the remains of Walker’s body were still stuffed in the apartment’s fridge. This is only possible through the online world, as youngsters are engaging with people they meet online, with zero knowledge of their background.
Read More: The main reason why Shraddhas get attracted to the Aftabs
The curious case of ‘swipe’
The majority of young India currently live based on swipes, right or left, they receive or do on these dating apps. However, the grisly murder has brought the dark side of dating apps to the fore. The market for dating apps is huge and is increasing every day because being on the platform is what makes Gen Z cool.
At present, more than 3 crore Indians use some kind of dating app and the annual turnover ranges around Rs 515 crores. As far as subscriptions are concerned, Indians race ahead of the entire world. This numbers have only risen during the pandemic.
The question here is if such a large population is on these apps, why are they dangerous? It is because the apps have penetrated the society. The app culture has made it alright for individuals to start dating anyone or move in with someone they met just a few days back, that too online. There lies an enhanced risk of getting involved with people one meets on such apps, be it bots or someone with a fake identity.
Also Read: The main reason why Shraddhas get attracted towards the Aftabs
Dating apps: An invitation to consequences
As per recent research, dating apps have become a platform for violent sexual predators to trap helpless victims. The study revealed that there was an increase in the number of victims reporting being raped after meeting someone through a dating app.
In another research, it was revealed that 48% of people do it for fun, while one in ten simply looks for sexual relationships (13%). The study revealed that the majority of the users share their complete identity including full name, home address among other details on the platforms that make them more vulnerable.
This is not the first time that online dating apps have come under the radar. A jaw-dropping Netflix documentary, Tinder Swindler brought the dark side of dating apps into the mainstream. The documentary showed an Israeli conman Simon Leviev, who used the online dating app Tinder to connect with individuals and manipulate them into aiding him with money to keep up with a lavish lifestyle. The conman was only after money, unlike the brutal Aftab.
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