The basic thesis of this paper, which is never clearly stated, appears to be (1) that the Internet permits individuals to cheaply (and successfully) search far and wide for a desirable sexual partner at a low cost and (2) that this will cause people to have shorter-term sexual relationships. Neither part of this two-part thesis seems to be well supported by any empirical evidence. Has the Internet had an effect on divorce rates? Marriage durations? Providing empirical answers to these questions or any number of others might help improve this paper.

Furthermore, the effect of the Internet on sexual relationships may be different among teens, college age persons, and adults. It may be different for different races or classes. The point is that this paper provides the reader with no definition of “long-term” and does not define who it is really talking about. On average, individual definitions of “long-term” probably change as one ages and cultural definitions of “long-term” may be different within different segments of the American population.

-- StephenClarke - 26 Jan 2010