Online Dating
ONLINE DATING
I
ntroduction
Online dating is a relatively new phenomenon. It arose during the late 1990s, at the same time that the Internet itself was becoming increasingly popular. Despite being a relatively young industry, online dating has already become one of the most profitable types of business to be found on the Internet. Online dating services currently attract millions of users every day, and the industry as a whole is making hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Online dating provides an efficient way for people to meet prospective partners and to get to know them through e-mails and chats. There are various positive aspects to be found in the experience of online dating, as compared to the traditional methods of dating. These include, for example, convenience, safety, and a sense of anonymity. However, the online dating experience can also have certain negative aspects, such as a lack of personal contact and the risk of being deceived. This paper will start out by providing an overview of the online dating industry, including a brief history and a description of its current status. The paper will then discuss why people use online dating services as well as the opportunities and pitfalls that are associated with the experience. The paper will conclude with an evaluation of the effectiveness of the online dating experience. It will be seen that online dating can be successful in terms of forming long-term relationships; however, as a general rule, a great deal of trial-and-error is also involved in this process.
Overview of the Online Dating Industry
Long distance courtships (by telephone, letters, etc.) existed long before the rise of the Internet in the 1990s. Nonetheless, the Internet, which enables people to instantly communicate with others around the world, has changed how people go about meeting potential mates and forming relationships. It is impossible to say when the first couple fell in love by communicating with
I
ntroduction
Online dating is a relatively new phenomenon. It arose during the late 1990s, at the same time that the Internet itself was becoming increasingly popular. Despite being a relatively young industry, online dating has already become one of the most profitable types of business to be found on the Internet. Online dating services currently attract millions of users every day, and the industry as a whole is making hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Online dating provides an efficient way for people to meet prospective partners and to get to know them through e-mails and chats. There are various positive aspects to be found in the experience of online dating, as compared to the traditional methods of dating. These include, for example, convenience, safety, and a sense of anonymity. However, the online dating experience can also have certain negative aspects, such as a lack of personal contact and the risk of being deceived. This paper will start out by providing an overview of the online dating industry, including a brief history and a description of its current status. The paper will then discuss why people use online dating services as well as the opportunities and pitfalls that are associated with the experience. The paper will conclude with an evaluation of the effectiveness of the online dating experience. It will be seen that online dating can be successful in terms of forming long-term relationships; however, as a general rule, a great deal of trial-and-error is also involved in this process.
Overview of the Online Dating Industry
Long distance courtships (by telephone, letters, etc.) existed long before the rise of the Internet in the 1990s. Nonetheless, the Internet, which enables people to instantly communicate with others around the world, has changed how people go about meeting potential mates and forming relationships. It is impossible to say when the first couple fell in love by communicating with
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