October 12, 2004
The thought of infidelity becoming an Internet industry is not just an abstract notion. It's a concrete reality as evident from the online companies that cater to a clientele seeking extramarital affairs.
The demands of such clientele are met through websites which act as typical online dating services by offering matches and dates. [Crosswalk.com and AgapePress have chosen not to publish the addresses of these sites.] Additional resources include, but are not limited to, tips on how to cover one's tracks as well as tips on how to arrange a sexual encounter in a quick and economical fashion.
According to Fox News, one such website "is the biggest cheating site in town," claiming 160,000 members who are able to plan romantic rendezvous through photos, profiles, and instant messaging. It also seeks to entice the unfaithful with the slogan, "When Monogamy Becomes Monotony."
In addition, another website attempts to lure people with the following invitation: "Studies indicate up to 30% of those people using on-line dating services are married. Why not join a site specifically designed for you?"
Such sites are of concern to family counselors, such as Brett Williams, who view the sites as aiding the breakdown of families.
"They're basically destroying the fabric of our society," Williams said. "Our society is built on family units. Once that decays, we're not going to have much of a society."
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This article appeared in the October 2004 issue of AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association.
