OPW – Apr 12 – When you hear about tragedies such as the Polish president’s plane
crash this weekend that took 100 lives, your mind tends to think of your loved
ones. However, if you don’t have that special someone in your life, what do you do? History has shown that in times of crisis, be it of September 11th proportions,
a devastating earthquake, or even the stock market, people tend to turn to dating
sites in times of need. The stock market crash of 1998 is a perfect example of this. For example, Manhunt
recorded three times as many new memberships than usual on September 29th when the
stock market fell 700 points. It was the best single day in their entire
history. According to Gian Gonzaga, senior research scientist at eHarmony, "It makes a lot of sense. People seek out companionship in
times of stress. Studies repeatedly show that being in a relationship can help
a person's psychological and physical health." A poll done by Opinion Research Corp. also found that younger, single people who were stressed about the
economy and its impact were more likely to seek out a relationship. Thomas
Enraght-Moony, former CEO of Match.com, said it best, "During these trying
times, people are looking for hope in their inbox.” As an industry, we certainly do not hope for
bad things to happen, but it is good for the bottom line.
