For her thesis in the field of Applied Media Studies at the Technical University Ilmenau, Stephanie Osswald wrote about Poppen.de, the German-language sister site of Popcorn.dating. The thesis was completed in 2010. We would like to share some of her findings with you. The aim of the study was to compare satisfaction levels in offline partnerships and online relationships. It was particularly interesting to look at commonalities and differences when someone had both types of relationship at the same time. The study was based on literature about relationships in exchange theory (c.f. Homans, 1958; Thibaut & Kelley, 1959). This theory views social relationships as continuous exchanges of non-material goods. For example, a husband might be meeting his wife’s need for affection, trust and security, and in return she might meet his needs. From this point of view, relationships are a constant give and take of desires and satisfaction. .

The analysis showed that the majority of the users had had one or more online relationships. However, they evaluated the online relationships as less satisfactory than the IRL relationship. This is particularly true for the intimate side of things, but also for the emotional needs. Online or in real life - - the study participants felt very connected to their partners. The differences in quality of connection, however, were very hard to measure.

In the view of the author, this may be because the members assess the relations on different levels according to whether they're online or IRL. But assigning them different functions didn't necessarily mean people were less happy in those relationships.

Finally, relationships that are conducted primarily through chats, emails, text messages and phone calls have their own upsides and satisfy some needs better than IRL partnerships. This including things like "listening" and "talking thing through" as well as the fact that one can construct dream world and live out their sexual fantasies there. Compromises have to be made in online relationships,most obviously about physical proximity and sexual contact. This shortcoming means that for some people these relationships are more like extended flirting than like partnerships. Whatever our opinion of them, virtual relationships are part of our world, and will likely become more common with time.