Thursday, September 2, 2010

Does Online Dating Work

Online dating creates an easy, casual environment for meeting people. Many are increasingly turning to online dating to meet more people than they would have a chance to meet in person. It is also a convenient way to make arrangements to meet someone any time of the day or night.


Function


Online dating sites are for single people to mingle. The sites generally feature thousands of personal profiles of members. Some sites use these profiles to make matches on behalf of the members. These matchmaking sites make the matches based on personal information that is filled out as well as questionnaires. Other sites have personal profiles listed for all members to see, and the members choose their favorite matches.


Types


There are two main types of dating sites. The first is one that is free for everyone. All of the functions are free to all members of sites such as PlentyofFish.com. Another type of site is one that is for paying members only. Free sites generally have far more members than paying sites. The sites that require a paid membership are often considered to have members who are more serious about finding a dating match because they have taken the step of paying for the service.








Identification


Dating sites can help members find dating partners by allowing them to see a lot of information about each member. The personal profiles that are used by most dating sites include a personal description of the person and what he's looking for as well as personal information such as his religious background, how much money he earns and what his marital status is. It is possible to learn a lot about each member with a few quick glances. This allows members to save time by weeding out undesirable matches and contacting only the people who meet their standards.


Benefits


Besides learning much about each potential dates in a short amount of time, there are also other benefits for those looking for a date or a relationship. Communication through dating sites can make it easy to get to know someone without a lot of the pressure of a first date. Through e-mail, instant messaging and live chat, members can talk to singles they are interested in whenever it is convenient for them. It is also more economical than dating. The cost of a month's membership to most dating sites is less than a dinner for two would cost at a mid-priced restaurant.








Misconceptions


Dating sites work well for people of all demographics and in all situations. It isn't just for people in their 20s or people who are awkward socially. There are dating sites for the elderly, people with disabilities, those who work within certain professions and people who share common cultural interests. There is a niche dating site for everyone as well as larger sites, including match.com, that have members from all walks of life.

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