Couples who meet online may not have as satisfying of a relationship compared to others, according to a new study published in Computers in Human Behavior. The study interviewed 923 married U.S. adults, with about half of them having met online. The report noted an “online dating effect” in which couples who met online reported having marriages that were less satisfying and stable as opposed to their counterparts who had met offline. The study noted that the differences were modest, with marital quality still being relatively high in both groups. The study noted that external pressures might be a contributing factor to the difference, with couples who met online facing more marginalization than others. The difference is important, however, as the study notes that around one third of all marriages began as an online relationship.

Couples in the study who met online tended to be younger and more recently married, which could also account for some of the feelings of instability. A noted benefit of meeting online is that couples tended to feel less pressure to introduce their significant other to friends and family until the relationship was more established. This, however, could also lead to more insecurity amongst one or both partners as there is a lack of input from external sources on the quality of the relationship. Online relationships were also less likely to result in marriage.

The study noted the importance of exploring the internet’s impact on relationships as it has drastically expanded the reach and selection pool a person has of possible partners. Miles that were once impossible to navigate prior to the internet are now instantly erased with the simplicity of a direct message. However, all that access may come at a cost.

A recent report on Very Well Mind noted that 20% of all Americans have used dating apps in some way. According to the report, online dating app users experience three times the amount of stress as non-users. Online users also suffered from poor body image as dates are often selected by the perceived attractiveness of users. Dating app users were also early evenly split on what time of relationship they were seeking, with 49% looking for casual sex while 47% were looking for a genuine relationship.