e-dating
E-dating means forming or pursuing a romantic relationship with someone mainly through internet communication rather than in-person contact.
The term combines the prefix "e-" (electronic, as in email or e-commerce) with "dating." In its general and most common sense, e-dating functions as a near-synonym for online dating: any romantic pursuit conducted through digital channels, including dating apps, social media direct messages, chat rooms, and video calls, regardless of whether the people involved eventually meet in person. A narrower, more recent usage circulates among teenagers and young adults on gaming and social platforms such as Discord, Roblox, and Fortnite. In this sense, e-dating describes a relationship that exists entirely within a digital or in-game environment, often between users who know little or nothing about each other's real identity, appearance, or age, and who have no stated intention of meeting offline. This usage distinguishes e-dating from mainstream app-based online dating, which typically works toward an eventual in-person meeting. Related terms include "online dating" (the general term for app- and site-based romantic pursuit, for which e-dating is a near-synonym), "IRL" (in real life, used to contrast with purely digital contact), and "internet relationship" (a more formal equivalent covering any relationship formed and maintained primarily online). The narrower sense of e-dating, which can involve minors and unverified identities, is commonly discussed in parenting and online-safety literature alongside general internet-safety guidance.