"Around half of all single people use online dating sites." (Bercovici, 2014)
Online dating began in 1995 when Match.com originated (Best & Delmenge, 2011). But in the past five years alone, online dating has grown from just being a random commercial you hear on TV to apps on thousands of smartphones. For the purposes of this website, online dating refers to the use of dating sites as a means to find a romantic partner. The need to connect deeply with others in forming an intimate relationship is often described as a fundamental human motivation, and is why some people, if they cannot find a partner on their own in person, may turn to online dating sites (Finkel et al., 2012).
Since 2008, the number of adults in America who use online dating services has grown by 3% (Thayer, 2014). It is expected that online dating will grow even more as technological advancements are made with smartphones, websites and applications for phones (Bercovici, 2014). Online dating has expanded from a marginalized activity into a now more widely accepted social activity (Couch, Liamputtong, & Pitts, 2012). Unlike other online sites, like social networking sites such as Facebook, online dating sites can connect two people that did not know each other or had no connection before (Gibbs, Ellison, & Lai, 2011).
Now that companies have seen the success of online dating sites, there are more population-specfic online dating sites being developed. These more specific dating sites are known as niche websites meaning they are directed and based on sexualities, preferred sexual interests, religion, ethnicities and other specific characteristics and interests (Couch, Liamputtong, & Pitts, 2012). Sure we have all seen commercials for ChristianMingle, BlackPeopleMeet and even FarmersOnly, but have you heard about Purrsonals? A dating site for cat lovers to meet and develop relationships with other cat lovers? There are dating sites being developed for almost every population, and BuzzFeed took the time to make a list of 20 of the Most Ridiculously Specific Online Dating Sites.
Due to the new MTV show Catfish, people may become more hesitant about initiating a relationship online.
Though Catfish typically follows the two host helping an online couple come together, one of the two parties is usually deceiving the other and it is rarely a happy ending. But it is important to not pay too much mind to Catfish when discussing online dating because couples on Catfish usually meet through some type of social media, not a legitimate online dating site. This website will discuss and evaluate online dating sites and relationships developed from them, not just relationships that developed from an online meeting.
Each dating site operates to make "matches" in different ways. Most now have developed algorithms that enable the website to make the "matches" between the website subscribers. This video by ABC News takes a look into how popular dating site OKCupid works.
Since 2008, the number of adults in America who use online dating services has grown by 3% (Thayer, 2014). It is expected that online dating will grow even more as technological advancements are made with smartphones, websites and applications for phones (Bercovici, 2014). Online dating has expanded from a marginalized activity into a now more widely accepted social activity (Couch, Liamputtong, & Pitts, 2012). Unlike other online sites, like social networking sites such as Facebook, online dating sites can connect two people that did not know each other or had no connection before (Gibbs, Ellison, & Lai, 2011).
Now that companies have seen the success of online dating sites, there are more population-specfic online dating sites being developed. These more specific dating sites are known as niche websites meaning they are directed and based on sexualities, preferred sexual interests, religion, ethnicities and other specific characteristics and interests (Couch, Liamputtong, & Pitts, 2012). Sure we have all seen commercials for ChristianMingle, BlackPeopleMeet and even FarmersOnly, but have you heard about Purrsonals? A dating site for cat lovers to meet and develop relationships with other cat lovers? There are dating sites being developed for almost every population, and BuzzFeed took the time to make a list of 20 of the Most Ridiculously Specific Online Dating Sites.
Due to the new MTV show Catfish, people may become more hesitant about initiating a relationship online.
Though Catfish typically follows the two host helping an online couple come together, one of the two parties is usually deceiving the other and it is rarely a happy ending. But it is important to not pay too much mind to Catfish when discussing online dating because couples on Catfish usually meet through some type of social media, not a legitimate online dating site. This website will discuss and evaluate online dating sites and relationships developed from them, not just relationships that developed from an online meeting.
Each dating site operates to make "matches" in different ways. Most now have developed algorithms that enable the website to make the "matches" between the website subscribers. This video by ABC News takes a look into how popular dating site OKCupid works.
Like OKCupid, many dating sites have the option of operating as a free user. The sites that offer free services often offer additional services or offers for various prices. More mainstream dating sites like Match or eHarmony charge subscribers a standard monthly fee and allow them to use all possible services.
Due to so many dating sites now requiring payment for the services or payment for additional services, online dating has becoming a lucrative industry. The online personals and online dating sites have become one of the most lucrative forms of paid content on the web in the United States (Ellison, Henio, & Gibbs, 2006). In the past year, the online dating industry has grown a "healthy" 7.1% (Bercovici, 2014).
Online dating is a growing area of research for psychologists and growing area for news coverage. As mentioned, MTV even has the TV show Catfish that brings online couples, though they did not necessarily meet through an online dating site, together to meet. News stations are reporting more and more frequently about dating sites, new sites being developed and how these sites work. The Huffington Post even has an entire section of its' site dedicated to online dating and can be found here.
There is much debate about the pros and cons of online dating as it is a growing area of research. This article on The Huffington Post explores some of the pros and cons, which is similar to what is discussed on the benefits and drawbacks pages. The disembodied nature of computer-mediated communication can either empower online daters to be outgoing, or be a front for daters to be deceiving. Though it can be argued that deception can happen in all forms of dating, it is most commonly feared in online dating because the what the user deceives the other user about is usually on a large scale (Epstein, 2007).
The rest of this website will discuss benefits of online dating, drawbacks of online dating, the stigma towards online dating and the emotional differences in online dating.
Due to so many dating sites now requiring payment for the services or payment for additional services, online dating has becoming a lucrative industry. The online personals and online dating sites have become one of the most lucrative forms of paid content on the web in the United States (Ellison, Henio, & Gibbs, 2006). In the past year, the online dating industry has grown a "healthy" 7.1% (Bercovici, 2014).
Online dating is a growing area of research for psychologists and growing area for news coverage. As mentioned, MTV even has the TV show Catfish that brings online couples, though they did not necessarily meet through an online dating site, together to meet. News stations are reporting more and more frequently about dating sites, new sites being developed and how these sites work. The Huffington Post even has an entire section of its' site dedicated to online dating and can be found here.
There is much debate about the pros and cons of online dating as it is a growing area of research. This article on The Huffington Post explores some of the pros and cons, which is similar to what is discussed on the benefits and drawbacks pages. The disembodied nature of computer-mediated communication can either empower online daters to be outgoing, or be a front for daters to be deceiving. Though it can be argued that deception can happen in all forms of dating, it is most commonly feared in online dating because the what the user deceives the other user about is usually on a large scale (Epstein, 2007).
The rest of this website will discuss benefits of online dating, drawbacks of online dating, the stigma towards online dating and the emotional differences in online dating.
This website was developed by Jennifer Rogers and Ashley Esposito, undergraduate students at Shippensburg University. This was developed for PSY432: Psychology of Computers and the Internet. Other student-made Weebly sites can be found through http://webspace.ship.edu/jacamp/psyberpsych/