Seventeen Magazine Slammed For Publishing Online Dating Article for Young Readers

Seventeen Magazine has been received a mixed reaction over an article they published that appears to be promoting online dating for younger people.

The magazine targets female readers aged from 12 – 19 and published an article on its website titled: “17 dating blogger on dating online.”

“Let’s face it: we’re all techoholics! Even though we do basically everything online, I always thought of online dating as something older people do,” wrote blogger, Isabelle Furth.

“I was talking to a new friend and she was telling me all about her boyfriend. I admit it, I was a little jealous. He sounded so great and she was so happy in her relationship. When I asked her how they met, she told me she had signed up for Match.com and had met him online right away. Now six months later, they’re engaged!” 

“Is finding love online the way to go, or is it best to be left to chance?” the article asks.

The article mentions Match.com, which in fact is a website that requires the user to be 18 years old to join it.

“Although many teens meet online through social media platforms, it is a bit ill advised for Seventeen Magazine to encourage kids to meet and hook up with strangers via the Internet,” said pop culture writer Jenn Hoffman speaking to Fox News. 

“They should indicate the dangers of online dating due to their young readership”, said teen educator Nicole Clark and director of the documentary Cover Girl Culture.

“Cyber-stalkers are a serious danger to children and teens and anytime you encourage online communities for kids you have to be educated on cyber stalkers” she continued. 

"Seventeen magazine is giving cyber-stalkers a gift wrapped dream present: tweens and teens who are seeking love online"

The magazine hasn't responded to the comments according to Fox.

The publication was founded back in 1994.