As part of many online disaster stories I have a lot of experience in the online dating world. The more times I ask couples how they met, the more responses I hear are becoming notably similar, “we met online.” Let’s face the facts, one-in-five American singles are in a committed relationship with a partner they have met online according to a match.com study found on datingsitesreviews.com.
Those are astounding numbers when there is a big stigmatism about meeting people through a dating website. People can feel ashamed or embarrassed about the fact that they met online. Others may feel scared or intimidated about meeting online strangers. Perhaps there is a fear because according to Statistics Canada, in 2008 approximately 23,000 incidents of dating violence were reported to police. There may be an intimidation factor because people tend to set their profile pictures as an image of a time when they looked flawless and fear the possibility of their date being disappointed when they see reality. Everyone has that one picture they love of themselves where the camera caught them looking their best with a great smile at the perfect angle. We use those pictures as our main images because as unfortunate as it is; looks matter to most people.
It’s also very easy to stretch the truth on your profile information. According to statistics found in a nypost.com article, men are approximately two inches shorter then what they publish in their profile while women are an inch shorter and 50 percent of daters lie about their weight. When it comes to revealing information about salary and income, their financial information is usually exaggerated by 20 percent.
With all of these negative conceptions, people are still surfing the web for love or sexual encounters. Greg Blatt, CEO of Match.com said the world has changed. Blatt says people get married older, work longer hours, move around more, and people are generally busier. He said these changes have put pressure on the way society traditionally have met their significant others. Blatt goes on to say that because of these changes, there is an increasing openness to doing new things. He said online dating has grown so much in part as a response to these societal changes and has become the third most important way we meet our significant others, even though it didn't even exist 15 years ago.
Though meeting significant others and spouses occur at a bigger percentage at work and school (36 percent) or through friends and family (26 percent) according to match.com, online dating (17 percent) has overtaken the bar scene during the past three years as only 11 percent of people have met their spouse at a club or social event.
Another dating website, plentyoffish.com claims that with over 135 million monthly visitors, they are the market leader in online dating. Plentyoffish says independent tracking firms Comscore.com and Hitwise.com report plentyoffish is the most visited dating site in the Northern America and the United Kingdom in 2010; not to mention membership is absolutely free.
But is free necessarily a good thing? Would a paid membership offer better results?
Plentyoffish claims that eharmony.ca charges its subscribers $49.99 every month which is a hefty price to pay if a user struggles to find love for an entire year. A year’s subscription would result in an annual bill of $599.88. However, eharmony says that the premium price will help users find meaningful high-quality matches. Eharmony claims that $49.99 a month will cost less than going on dates with people who may not be compatible with you. In theory, eharmony may have a point but that also depends on the type of dates you go on, not every date has to be a bank-buster. But in my own opinion there may be more merit in knowing someone is willing to fork out $49.99 a month to find love because that tells me a woman is serious about long-term relationships rather then a woman on a free dating site who may just be on it for an ego-booster.
Plentyoffish claims that eharmony.ca charges its subscribers $49.99 every month which is a hefty price to pay if a user struggles to find love for an entire year. A year’s subscription would result in an annual bill of $599.88. However, eharmony says that the premium price will help users find meaningful high-quality matches. Eharmony claims that $49.99 a month will cost less than going on dates with people who may not be compatible with you. In theory, eharmony may have a point but that also depends on the type of dates you go on, not every date has to be a bank-buster. But in my own opinion there may be more merit in knowing someone is willing to fork out $49.99 a month to find love because that tells me a woman is serious about long-term relationships rather then a woman on a free dating site who may just be on it for an ego-booster.
If anyone signs up for any type of dating website there is safety and advice that should always be taken and followed. Plentyoffish says there is no substitute for acting with caution when communicating with any stranger who wants to meet you. Never include your last name, e-mail address, home address, phone number, place of work, or any other identifying information in your internet profile or initial e-mail messages. Stop communicating with anyone who pressures you for personal or financial information or attempts in any way to trick you into revealing it.
Plentyoffish also advises that if you choose to have a face-to-face meeting with another member, always tell someone in your family or a friend where you are going and when you will return. Never agree to be picked up at your home. Always provide your own transportation to and from your date and meet in a public place with many people around.
And let’s not forget that a date should be fun, whatever fun may be for those particular people.
Check out these ten great first date ideas on onlinedating.org for some suggestions if you’re stuck on what to do or where to go.
Check out these ten great first date ideas on onlinedating.org for some suggestions if you’re stuck on what to do or where to go.
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