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Online dating started before the World Wide Web in the early days of the Internet. Those familiar with the sophisticated technologies of online dating sites today will probably consider the old prototypes of online dating as somewhat primitive given that text-only communications incorporating simple discussion groups were the only standard concept available.
Another approach when discussing the evolution of online dating is to look at it based on the actual establishment of online dating websites in the mid-90s. Here, meeting users for the purpose of forging romantic relationships was the sole purpose. Whatever viewpoint chosen, however, the idea of online dating remained the same: Meet a potential love interest without going to clubs and bars.
Online dating in the days of plain text and discussion groups did not pan out because it lacked one important element — visual. It was only with the integration of digital technology which allowed attaching a photo to an online profile so users can get a preview of what a person looked like before initiating correspondence did online dating enjoy wider popularity. Friendfinder.com and Match.com, established in 1995 and 1996, respectively, were the very first dating websites to incorporate visual elements and set the standard for thousands of online dating sites which sprouted through the years.
Despite the growing popularity of online dating in the 90s and early 2000s, those who dared use these services had to deal with much stigma; they were thought of as desperate and perhaps even strange. Date seekers who had faith in the powers of Internet technology to bring people together even from the farthest corners of the world plodded on, however, eventually convincing their family and friends to join, thus, increasing the user base of these dating services into the many millions based on today’s statistics.
The birth of social networking sites which started with SixDegrees.com in 1997, then Makeoutclub, Friendster, MySpace, LinkedIn, and Bebo the following decade pushed online dating even further into the mainstream. Then, Facebook came along in 2004 and online dating was never the same again. Unlike standard dating websites whose main selling point was helping users find potential love matches, social networking sites brought family, friends, former classmates and colleagues and not just virtual strangers in search of potential dates. The ‘incidental love’ element of social networking sites has diluted the stigma associated with online dating and made social networking sites a very appealing proposition to make friends as well as ‘Facebook friends with benefits’
By December 2007, ComScore reported that the number of users of online dating sites has dwindled by 10 percent compared to the past year. Analysts say this had something to do with the proliferation of social networking sites. Online users simply had more varied websites to join which served the same purpose as online dating sites even better. Still, many refused to believe that online dating sites were over and done with, citing that in the same year, online dating sites generated revenues totaling $1 billion. It is estimated that the figures could climb to $1.65 billion by 2012, with huge help from the baby boomers.
Dating sites also learned to fight back, using sophisticated matchmaking algorithms for matching members to lure users to them. One of the hottest trends in online dating is matching users with similar facial features, the idea being that people who look alike are believed to be more compatible than those who don’t. Dating websites that cater specifically to a particular religion, race, and sexual preference, and to single parents were also established, further fuelling the popularity of online dating sites.
Online dating websites also took advantage of mobile technology. Smartphones equipped with GPS now let users check out the list of singles in a particular area while on the go.
About the author: Matt Fuller provides articles and news items on a number of areas including online dating sites Australia, social networking and free online dating websites reviews.