KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS — July 25 — George, 35, and Erika, 29, provide a pleasant contrast to the ABC show "Hooking Up" (9 p.m. Thursdays) where singles juggle, mislead, evade and dump potential mates they meet online. A few years ago, George and Erika’s relationship might never have happened but internet dating has gone mainstream. eHarmony knows of at least 12,000 couples married after meeting on its site. Match.com estimates it has helped hundreds of thousands of singles meet. It receives 200 e-mails or letters each month from couples telling about their engagements or marriages. Both eharmony and Match.com say the prime audience tends to be people in their 30s who have moved beyond their college social network and are still looking for a mate. More than 26 million people, or 16% of U.S. Internet users, visited an online dating site in June, according to comScore. U.S. consumers spent $470 million last year on Internet personals, making it the largest category of paid online content.
Mark Brooks: In the 90’s people said, ‘ugh, you’re using internet dating. People are now saying, ‘I use internet dating and it’s OK.’ In the future people will say, ‘you’re not using internet dating…are you insane!’ Everyone will be using internet dating…but it still has a long way to go. Personality profiling, mobile phone based dating, referral/social networking based services, services that bridge the communications gap between email/IM and that first coffee date. This is the future.
Internet dating is absolutely the way to go -it allows you to expand on where/how you meet men(women) and gives you the chance to talk with the person and get to know him/her. I think anyone who doesn’t take advantage of the sites available out there is just being silly. Mr./Ms. Right is out there – it’s just a matter of finding the “right” way of meeting him/her.
I’ve been lucky in that I’ve had some really awesome meetings with some great people that I’ve met online. For me this internet dating is totally the way to go. I can’t tell enough people to keep their heads up and give it a try. You have nothing to lose by searching for love online.
There are lots of new sites just waiting to luanch. I too happen to be a fan of the whole online dating. I totally agree with you Mark, in that this IS the way to date and the future of meeting others.
I personally liked using Eharmony.com. I found that their method of setting up people was quite intriguing. I’ve also used Yahoo Personals which has been an ok experience…. Has anyone else used sites that they enjoy? I know that some site are used for certain types of sects/religions. Has anyone used these types of sites? Looking for feedback from anyone out there. Best Regards, Hetalu
I haven’t found any dating site that I feel really comfortable with. I’m a very private person and for me to post my information and my picture on the net for just “anyone” to look at makes me feel a little uneasy. If anyone has any private sites that they know of, I’d love to hear about it and how it works.
Till then…. C.B.
I found a brand new site that looks really amazing – http://www.RetroMatch.com. The site combines the new age online dating with the old age matchmaking system (or dating agents as their called). The site is discreet, private and screens both members as well as the dating agents. http://www.RetroMatch.com seems like a sure way to go and you have nothing to lose by trying it. I personally signed up as a Gold Member – this allows me access to the entire site and allows me to take advantage of all of RetroMatch.com’s features ie. I get to choose up to 3 matchmakers who work for me personally, I can receive up to 10 match suggestions per week and I have the option of being sent the match to me the woman first – that way if I’m not interested in the guy he doesn’t even know that I declined him. RetroMatch.com seems the way to go and with everything I’ve read about other sites, RetroMatch.com is the only site that can guarantee privacy, security and I know that I have dating agents working directly for me so I don’t have to be worried about any “losers” or any “fakers” trying to get a hold of me. The site checks out it’s members and a suggestion is sent to me based on what I’ve listed/posted in my profile. I’d love to get feedback from you guys about your thoughts on http://www.RetroMatch.com.
Happy dating!
Just signed up to RetroMatch.com and I’m very excited to see how it works out for me. Thank you!!!!