Understanding Online Dating

Understanding Online Dating

Online dating has gone a long way.  During the early and mid-1990s, there are already 16 dating websites listed in Yahoo!.  There were already web sites dedicated for sad people to meet and talk.  In fact, meeting on the internet became an important factor in the 1998 movie You’ve Got Mail.  Some would say that social networking sites were products of early dating sites. 

But it was not always smooth sailing for this service.  Online dating sites experienced slow growth during 2001 and 2002, but is now fully recovered.  It has become one of the most lucrative online businesses, nowadays.   According to web measurement firm comScore Media Metrix, about 39 million Americans or 26% of web users have visited dating websites in December 2003.  Online dating and relationship is attracting more people since they are less intimidating compared with the normal dates.  In fact, in a survey conducted by The Sunday Times, 72 % of women and 52% of men have had online romance.

With a huge following, the revenues are also increasing.  In 2001, web users spent a total of $72 million on dating services, according to the Online Publishers Association.  In 2002, the figures increased three times, people spent $302 million on personal paid advertising and dating services.  Online dating services welcomed the first half of 2003 with a bang.  Revenues were already $214.3 million in just six months of that year.

Online dating sites would allow users to search their database for possible love matches.  The sites may recommend matches, but the users are still given the choice to communicate with them or look for other possible matches.  These sites offer different ways to connect with other users like online chats, internet calls (voice over internet protocol), games, webcasts and message boards.  Sites may be free or may require members to pay monthly fees. 

The increase of online dating followers can be attributed to different factors. 
• Potential choices.  There are a lot of members of dating sites and a lot of possible matches.  This would give you a bigger opportunity in finding true love.

• Compared with going out on “real” dates, online dating is relatively more inexpensive. 

• In a way, online dating sites provide you a great way of learning about other people more intensively without fear of embarrassment of rejection.  For shy people, this would help them learn about the other person without fear of being humiliated.

If others consider online dating a great opportunity, others may regard this risky.  There are some free sites who would claim their success in online dating, however, these sites would also attract huge numbers of scammers and prevents since they are free.  In a study by the University of Texas Health Science Center, women who are up to online dating are vulnerable of stalking, fraud and sexual violence.   There are also users who would fall victims to people who would assume a different kind of personality just to attract other people or any response. 

Online dating sites are not perfect since they may also encounter some problems.  For example, some sites would fail to update their database.  They would claim a large number of members when majority are inactive.   Others would complain because some profiles are just used as “baits” that are used to attract more members.  There are also some sites which use their member’s email address to send spam.

Online dating is all about chance in getting love and relationship.  Some would get lucky, while others may be unsuccessful. After all, the game of love is a risky game whether it is online or offline.

What You Need to Know About Online Dating… First!

Online dating is not all fun and games and there are a lot of things that a person has to know about online dating before one gets into the intricacies of it. Online dating may seem to be the simplest thing in the world but it is not.

It should be viewed in all earnestness or things could go haywire. Every game has its rules and unless you know all the rules you just can’t become a good player and eventually a winner.

Tastes Differ

There are so many kinds of people around. Just look around you -- how many people you know look the same?

Sizes, builds, shapes, features… they are all so different!

And that is just about the external appearances. And when it comes to character, it becomes a very different story altogether. Take a trip down memory lane, go back to your classrooms and look around.

A classroom is one place where we get to interact with a lot of different people on a very close basis. We get to rub shoulders and corners with very different people and we get to know them on a one to one basis. So how many of your classmates did you genuinely like?

I don’t mean like them as classmates but as people. Was it easy to get along with all of them? That is why we often end up with best friends or clichés in classrooms.

We do not and do not have to like everybody. The tastes and interests of one person might match with ours while the tastes and interests of another person may be at complete loggerheads with ours.

So when it comes to dating, it is very much the same story. But over here there are some strings attached. Unlike in a classroom contact, most people go on dates with a more impressive purpose, and that is to find life mate. There are a hundred and one things that should match before two people decide to spend the rest of their lives with each other.

Many people are of the opinion that they do not need any help with dating. They may be right because nobody knows a person’s tastes and likes better than the person himself or herself.

Maybe most of us do not need any help in making the right choice but isn’t it good to get a few pointers on the dating process as such, particularly on Online dating? It is with this objective that this matter was prepared so that the thousands who are now availing of Internet dating may get the best out of it. 

Choosing The Right Online Dating Site

The number of people participating in online dating sites is increasing over the years.  In 2005, Americans have spent about $500 million on personal advertising according to the Online Publishers Association (OPA).  Hitwise Inc. said that in November 2004, there are about 844 lifestyle and dating sites.  With a lot of choices how do we determine what service we want?

You will start by determining your reasons for joining a dating site. The type of online dating site would depend on your needs. There are some people who would register because they are looking for long-term relationships, while others are looking for friends and people who have the same interests.

Another looming question is whether you prefer paid or free online dating.  Of course, who does not want any service for free? Free sites are great when searching for friends, but they also pose more risks compared with paid sites.  Scams and fraudulent activities usually happen in free sites.  Aside from that, they could also enlist perverts and dangerous people for free. Users who are seriously looking for relationships are usually found in paid sites.  But it does not mean that paid online dating sites are risk-free.  Safety and security should always be kept in mind, regardless if it is free or paid site.

Here are some types of social and dating sites that you could choose from.

• General online dating site.  This site would require you to provide a profile which would be used to match you up with other users.  Members are allowed to look for other user profiles in the database aside from those recommended by the site administrator.

• Niche online dating site.  Niche sites do not have a lot members compared with other online dating sites.  The good thing about this site is that members share common interests.  It is easy for members to start connecting with each other since they have a common ground.

• Social networking site.  They are not specifically meant for dating or relationship building.  But this would allow you to gain and maintain friends and contacts on the net.  It is also a great way of connecting with former classmates, friends and even with an old flame.  Although they are not really dating sites, there are a lot of people who have met and dated thanks to different social networking websites.

• Relationship sites.  Unlike the general online dating sites, relationship sites dig deeper.  They would require the member to complete a thorough personal information form.  Answers would be calculated and the site would be sending you possible matches.  The user is not able to open other profiles aside from the matches provided by the website.

Before joining any site, it is recommended to check it first.  Paid online dating sites usually have free trials.   If safety is your number one priority, then check for sites that would conduct background checks on their members.  However, still keep in mind, that each state would usually have its own law covering background checks.

Online dating could bring you good fortune or bad luck.  Relationship is just a few hits from your keyboard.  Signing-up may either make or break your heart.  Love and relationships, anyway, are risky enough, even if it is not online.