What are the success rates for
Internet dating sites?
There are many sites that indicate different statistics for the success rate for
Internet dating sites. Most of the statistics are very difficult to establish if they are true or not, because success may have different meanings for each individual. A good way for individuals to determine is the
Internet dating sites are good or not is to check the reviews and ratings for the sites. At the bottom of this segment will be some links that review some of the famous online dating sites, and people’s personal reviews of the sites. Understanding what the sites consist of and how people rate the site is important, but it is important to form your own opinions. The only way to determine your personal success on an
Internet dating site is to research the site for yourself. You may need to ask questions like, “do you want to date or form a serious relationship”. Each person measures their success to their own standards. On average, a person will form some type of relationship out of
Internet dating sites, but what happens after they meet is up to the individuals.
Some relative links:
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/internet/online-dating/reviews.htmlhttp://www.theinternetdatingguide.com/http://www.theage.com.au/news/Books/Datings-latest-guide/2005/06/13/1118645744826.htmlhttp://onlinedating.nicheinfocenter.com/
Social Acceptance with Online Dating
I think that you have made really great points about having relationships online. Are most of the people that create relationships online socially unacceptable?
As online dating sites become more dominant they become more socially acceptable. There used to be a social stigma to the matchmaking service, but that is no longer due to the fact that each individual is in more control of the online dating. People now are more technologically savvy, and are more capable of using the internet dating sites for their own personal interests. Mothers, fathers, sons & daughters are all now using online personal ads to attract partners, and more people are continually adding to the list.
Another article states that 94% of people who met a person from the internet on a first date met again. And, now that people are using the internet for more personal tasks, they are also using it for their personal relationships. From the information on the internet to the people using the internet more frequently, online dating has become a common task. It has allowed for people to meet one another without the intimidation factor. Now that online dating has become more familiar, why not give it a try?
Here is an article on social awareness of online dating:
http://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/~atf/thesis_mit/fiore_thesis_final.pdf
Here is an article on online dating:
http://www.onlinedatingsites.info/Dating_Articles/Online_Dating/Why_Date_Online?/
Forming relationships
How healthy do you really think it is to base a relationship off of what people know about each other over the internet? There is the ability to have misrepresentations of oneself, so what are some factors that lead to an online relationship being successful?In some cases, the Internet can be a healthy outlet for individuals who need support they cannot receive from the real world (Matsuba 2006). People are able to create and maintain relationships online, and those relationships are used to help individuals through their daily life. For example, a person who has not yet disclosed their homosexuality to people in their lives may go online and disclose that information to their Internet friends. This has created a healthy outlet for that particular individual, because they are able to portray the true self without having to suffer any consequences.
Jennifer Yurchisin, Kittichai Watchravesringkan and Deborah Brown McCabe concluded that people form identities that they inspire to be. Also, people form an identity that they are not able to portray to the public, because they may not feel comfortable to do so. This is especially true when concerning online dating sites. Although some people do form false identities, most people try to portray their true character and a character they hope to be some day, which is known as “possible selves)”.
When forming online relationships, people want to establish a relationship that they may not be able to form face-to-face. Maybe some people are too timid to say what they feel, but have confidence online. Or, a person may feel that they are only able to act the way they feel online. People should be careful in trusting relationships online, but they must also understand that the Internet allows for a more open line of communication.
Brown McCabe, Deborah, Watchravesringkan, Kittichai, Yurchisin, Jennifer. (2005). An Exploration of Identity Re-Creation in the Context of Internet Dating. Social Behavior and Personality, Volume 22, 735-750.
Matsuba, M. Kyle. (2006). Searching for Self and Relationships Online. CyberPsychology & Behavior, Volume 9, 275-284.
Online Relationships
Can you really have a relationship with someone if you never have face-to-face interaction, and if so what makes it possible?According to Gustavo (2006), online relationships did not discuss as much information as face-to-face relationships. Face-to-face relationships were closer in the fact that they discussed a variety of information among each other. Online relationships were specific in what they discussed; therefore there was certain significance to that relationship. These relationships are easily maintained, but did not seem to be as personal as face-to-face relationships.
Another article discussed how people are more truthful about their identity on the Internet, because they are not reluctant to withhold information from a person who was face-to-face (Matsuba 2006). These relationships become very important to individuals, and people are easily able to maintain relationships that are more honest and intimate. People are also more likely to keep the relationship much longer than face-to-face, because there is less conflict in the relationship that is online.
With any face-to-face interaction, there is more likely a chance for something to go wrong. People are more likely to incorporate body language with what the person is saying, and people are also more likely to say something they do not mean. With online conversations, people are able to think about what they are typing, and are able to correct what they are saying before sending the message over the Internet. It is important for people to have physical contact with others, but it can also prevent conflict if face-to-face conversation does not take place.
Matsuba, M. Kyle. (2006). Searching for Self and Relationships Online. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, Volume 9, 275-284.
Mesch, Gustavo. (2006). The Quality of Online and Offline Relationships: The Role of Multiplexity and Duration of Social Relationships. The Information Society, Volume 22, 137-148.
Neglecting Relationships
Do researchers really believe that a majority of our society neglect real world relationships and obligations just to be on the Internet? I know a lot of people do, but I think a majority is stretching it. I would be interested in seeing some statistics for this topic.
A longitudinal analysis, researched by Shklovki, Kraut & Rainie, concluded that there was substantial evidence that showed that the Internet does decline social interaction among individuals (2004). The amount that people would visit friends and family dropped from 70% to 49% due to new media. The reasons people gave for the lack of social interaction was that the Internet was a replacement for visiting friends and family. New media has allowed for there to be an easier form of communication, since there is no longer a geographical gap separating their communication.
Another study, researched by Nie and Erbring in 2000, indicated that people who used the internet heavily spent less time interacting with others face-to-face. Instead, they spent most of their time doing their work online at home, and away from family and friends. Following that study, NPR/Kaiser/Harvard’s Kennedy School found that 58% of Americans spent less time with family and friends due to the internet (2000).
Although these are just a few studies that prove the topic to be correct, there are still substantial problems with the research. It is impossible for the researches to study every person using the internet and their face-to-face interactions. Also, many people are estimating the time they spend on the Internet, and it may vary from week to week. Overall, the main idea is people need to be more aware of their personal relationships outside of the internet.
Kraut, Robert, Rainie, Lee, Shklovski, Irina. (2004). The Internet and Social Participation: Contrasting Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Volume 10, Article 1.
Here is another article researching this topic:
http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~hillygus/Wellmanchapter.pdf
