Week One Analysis "Online Dating"

The new hype on online dating is fascinating. In the past online dating has had a negative stigma attached to it. I think a lot had to do with friends and family frowning upon using the internet for finding a mate. There were a lot of people who thought that people that used online dating services were weird, socially inept, or even people that could not get a so called real date with the traditional dating methods. I even remember Saturday Night Live doing a skit on online dating which portrayed it use for the bizarre and creepy.

In the 1990’s online dating was a relatively new concept and Morgan Hamilton believes that the movie starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan called ‘You’ve Got Mail’ had some impact on creating a positive vibe on the use of the internet for dating (2007). Now online dating is definitely more acceptable and it shows by the thousands of sites available and the millions of dollars spent on these personal services. Online Publishers Association and COM Score Networks have positioned online dating as the leading segment of paid content on the Internet (Hamilton, 2007).

Around 2006 online dating services were plentiful, with such sites as Match.com, eHarmony,

Yahoo Personals (Hamilton, 2007). Currently advertising plays a bigger role in marketing the sites and people tend to believe in this media. There are commercials on TV and a load of advertising online. Accessibility is also a big contributor to its growth. I’m sure by now most homes in the US have a computer and internet access, just as shopping online has taken off so has using dating services. It’s all about the ease of use and its connivance (Geek, 2007).

Just like anything you buy online, buyer beware. There has been some news about the safety of using these types of sites. There have been instances that I can recall such as rape and kidnapping. At the same time I think this would also be a concern using traditional methods of dating. I would have to say try not to tell anyone any personal information like your address or place of employment. With all that said online dating is still very popular and gaining more favor for even the “normal” people.

References

Geek, Blonde (2007). Why is Online Dating so Popular? Retrieved August 23, 2009, from Associated Content Web site: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/464957/why_is_online_dating_so_popular.html?singlepage=true&cat=41

Hamilton, M. (2007, January 5). Why Online Dating is Becoming so Popular. Retrieved August 23, 2009, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Online-Dating-is-Becoming-so-Popular&id=405879