Category: Reporters – Abby Ellin

After Ashley Madison Breach, Online Daters Check Credentials

Posted on October 19, 2015

Background checks picsNYTIMES – Oct 15 – In August, traffic on Spokeo, an online verification service, more than doubled. Others are using private investigators and matchmakers to do the vetting for them. Selective Search, an executive matchmaking firm based in Chicago, also reported a bump in calls after the Ashley Madison hack. And Tawkify received more inquiries from people wanting to meet someone who has been properly vetted, said E. Jean Carroll, a co-founder of the matchmaking service.

by Abby Ellin
See full article at NYTimes

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Summarized by Courtland Brooks Internet Dating Marketing Consulting

Singles 60+ Turns To Matchmakers

Posted on March 31, 2014

Senior dating3NY TIMES – Mar 28 – According to AARP, 45% of adults 65+ are divorced, separated or widowed. The 60-plus crowd is the fastest-growing segment in online daters. But online dating can be daunting for this demographic. And that’s why some seniors are calling matchmakers and dating coaches. ~90% of the estimated 3K matchmakers in the US will work with seniors, though not necessarily exclusively, said Lisa Clampitt, co-founder of the Matchmaking Institute. She warns prospective clients, especially women, to ask matchmakers how many older men they have in their database. “Older women often get ripped off with empty promises from matchmakers that they have plenty of men for them,” she said.

by Abby Ellin
See full article at NY Times

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Online Making Up Apps Sprung Up

Posted on March 11, 2014

Couples counselling chattingNY TIMES – Mar 11 – Couple Counseling & Chatting is a free app created by a real-life therapist, Marigrace Randazzo-Ratliff. It helps couples figure out why they’re arguing. Other new apps meant to enhance communication and ease or prevent conflicts have sprung up, such as Embre and Romantimatic. Older apps include Fix a Fight and Love Maps. Since its release on Feb. 12, Couple Counseling & Chatting, has had ~17K downloads, ~70% of them by men.

by Abby Ellin
See full article at NY Times

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Making A Child, Minus The Couple

Posted on February 11, 2013

Modamily logoNY TIMES – Feb 11 – Modamily.com is a Web site for people looking to share parenting arrangements. Several other social networks, including PollenTree.com, Coparents.com, Co-ParentMatch.com, and MyAlternativeFamily.com have sprung up over the past few years. The sites present what can seem like a compelling alternative to surrogacy, adoption or simple sperm donation. As with same-sex marriage, the laws on parenting partnerships vary from state to state. Elizabeth Marquardt, director of the Center for Marriage and Families at the Institute for American Values, says: “It’s a terrible idea, deliberately consigning a child to be raised in two different worlds, with parents who did not even attempt to form a loving bond with one another". “As children of divorce will tell you, it’s very difficult to grow up in two different worlds, with your parents each pursuing separate love lives that can be increasingly complex over the course of a childhood.” Others say she is missing the point that parenting partnerships actually spare a child the future pain of divorce.

by Abby Ellin
See full article at NY Times