The first online dating site www.match.com opened its portal to the world 20 years ago. Since then, online dating has evolved to be the most popular way to meet partners. There are three main categories of online dating sites: 1. The search and match system like www.rsvp.com.au allows users to search for partners from specific characteristics. 2. Personality-matching systems like www.eHarmony.com use system administrators to make a match. 3. Social network system like http://www.gotinder.com utilizes Facebook profiles to find a match.
Online dating sites gained popularity over the past many years. Match.com has a global audience of 35 million users. PlentyOfFish has 23 million visitors and Zoosk has 11.4 million visitors. The number of people looking for potential partners is continually increasing. Online dating is no longer considered a desperate attempt to look for love. The stigma is beginning to disappear as 87% of single males and 83% of single females believe that online dating is now socially acceptable.
Constant connectivity in social media has revolutionized the way we build relationship. Social media make internet users de-stigmatized online dating and made users more accepting of it. Online dating became the fastest and interesting way of meeting people via social media. 30% of social media users have used social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to get more information about people they are interested in dating. Facebook offer an additional opportunity to being introduced to friends of friends and widen the dating network.
Online dating sites use social media information to make a match. Tinder uses Facebook profile data and location to find a match with a right swipe on their smartphones. LinkedUp leverage LinkedIn profiles to find potential dates. Down (formerly Bang with Friends) helps you determine which of your FB friends are interested in hooking up. Hookupz gives a match based on interest and geographic location.
Online dating in the age of social media has made meeting potential partners easier. Social media offers plenty of options and opportunities to reach out to possible partner. One in every five relationships today started online. Eight percent of 18-29 year olds admitted to be in a committed relationship with a partner or a spouse they met online. The success rate of online dating speaks for itself with one in three marriages today began their relationship online.
Now with the rise of digital media and smart devices, singles have another option to find the right one by “mobile dating”. Technology has a real good way of bringing people together. Mobile dating applications let users make a connection with just a simple swipe. It provides a unique way to meet potential partners based on proximity, looks and preferences. These applications use geolocation technologies to help you find a date, hook-up or meet-up. Modern technology made reaching out to attractive strangers easy and accessible.