I think the answer depends a lot on culture and how the boy or girl was raised. For example, growing up in a gora American family, having both male and female friends wasn't a problem, and I honestly never had a situation with a male American friend where I felt there was tension, hopes for something more, etc. I am getting married in six weeks and have two male friends who are attending our wedding who I have known for 10+ years without there ever being an issue.
But then in college I experienced living in the Middle East, and although I was conservative in my behavior I would still meet lots of young people my age through college classes, etc. A few times I met guys who I thought would make good friends, but it always seemed that after two or three decent conversations the guys claimed to fall in love with me. I realized that many of them had very little contact with girls, which made them more vulnerable to developing feelings for any girl they had a meaningful connection with---they didn't distinguish between friendship connection and romantic love connection. And yes, I understand that as a gori some guys probably had some mistaken physical expectations of me, or that there may have been a 'visa hound' here or there, but generally I am talking about smart, educated, nice guys who could have found their own way to America or their own girlfriend without a problem. They didn't need me as an excuse.
For Western gora guys, generally, they are used to having contact with girls their whole life without a taboo, so they don't fall as easily.