Explain and give an example of one way that CMC has made it easier to develop romantic relationships online

What will be an ideal response?

Students examples will vary based on which aspect they choose. They may choose to explain one of the following:
1. CMC makes it easier to find similar others. It's easy to see how one can meet people with similar interests because there are a lot of discussion boards and websites tailored to specific interests. If a person wants to meet other sports fans, there are websites for them. If a person wants to date someone who is Christian, there are dating websites for that, too.
2. CMC makes it easier to "get past the gates" that people often close to each other because of features such as shyness, physical appearance, and social skill. For example, if a man is really shy and has a hard time asking women out on dates, he may feel it is much easier to "wink" or send a message to a potential partner online.
3. CMC makes it easier to achieve higher levels of intimate exchange. For example, dating websites have people create profiles that include varying levels of personal information. Even before people "meet" online, they may know some personal information about each, including whether they want children and their attitudes toward politics.