Technology has changed romance completely.

With the increasing use of social media and rise of the Web, students are extremely social over the Internet.

While fewer and fewer conversations are occurring in person, more teens are creating relationships — friendly and intimate — over their cellphones and computer screens.

We find comfort in “good morning” texts and feel butterflies from a series of favorites/likes.

If he/she does not give you a “man crush Monday” or “woman crush Wednesday” are they really into you?

If your relationship status is not on Facebook for everyone to see, is your relationship actually official?

As for Internet dating, the day has come that this is considered a legitimate way of meeting people.

Chat rooms have become the place to find “the one.”

Internet dating sites and advertisements no longer have the stigma they once did.

You may find yourself getting the reaction of a raised eyebrow and some widened eyes, but for the most part, when telling people you are using or have used the Web to date, it feels almost normal.

But is this really healthy or even safe for this generation, or is this just the new norm?

By leaps and bounds, Internet dating has gained popularity, and unfortunately, so have the dangers and horror stories everyday Internet users have encountered.

Example: the Craigslist killer.

Known as Mr. Philip Markoff, the Craigslist killer initially met his victim, Miss Julissa Brisman, over Craigslist.

According to law officials, Markoff first encountered Brisman through an ad on the site for massage services provided by her.

Upon meeting, what looked like an attempted robbery to officials turned deadly.

Although Brisman was a call girl, the same danger is still out there for other individuals just trying to meet their Internet love interest.

Example: John Edward Robinson.

Meeting many women in online chat rooms with the screen name “Slavemaster,” Robinson lured women to leave their pasts behind and move in with him.

He would entice them with offering money and jobs.

One woman, Sheila Faith, 45, whose 15-year-old daughter Debbie was confined to a wheelchair due to spina bifida, fell into this trap.

He offered to take care of her and Debbie, paying for Debbie’s physical therapy as well.

Sheila and her daughter then moved to Kansas City in order to be with Robinson.

Immediately, they disappeared.

But these are not the only victims of Internet relationships.

Many other children, and adults, have been abducted and even killed through meetings with online strangers.

Personally, I believe some of these Internet relations can pose a threat.

We are able to date online because there is such a variety of dating websites full of people willing to trust the World Wide Web with finding their true love.

Not only that, the Internet is a source for people from everywhere to get connected.

It is a place where no one is alone.

As wonderful and beautiful as that sounds, what are we really getting ourselves into by getting connected with strangers?

The Internet is full of people, good and bad, that we are so willing to trust (regardless if we have ever met.)

With this, we are allowing ourselves to take the chances of being “catfished.”

To “catfish” is to lure someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona.

This happens so frequently that there is even a TV show based off of personal experiences on MTV.

Is this really worth the risks?

By being so trusting with online strangers, we are allowing ourselves to be thrown into danger.

Over the years, technology has turned many regular Internet users into victims, and this can happen to any of us.

You.

Your child.

Either of your parents.

Your sibling.

We need to not be so naïve when it comes to online relationships.

Be smart.

Never meet anyone alone.

If it does not feel right, it probably isn’t.

Visit loveisrespect.org for further advice and a hotline concerning online relationships.