Joseph Walther describes the hyperpersonal model and its relevance to the study of online dating. 'Idealisation' of perception and presentation online can facilitate the selection process, but may have unforseen consequences when people eventually meet. In conversation with Nicole Ellison, Joseph Walther describes the hyperpersonal model and its relevance to the study of online dating. He explains how the 'idealisation' of both perception and presentation online can facilitate our natural processes of selection, but also suggests that the specific presentational affordances of computer mediated communication may have unforeseen (and likely troublesome) consequences when individuals finally meet.