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A Net dating service is an example of a dating system. What differentiates a net dating service from other matchmaking is its reliance on the Internet. What differentiates it from a net porn service is the assertion that "real dates" are on the other end of the line... often false, as many of these 'services' employ paid operators who have no intention of ever dating anyone who calls. This is also true of many phone dating services.
As technology seems to introduce vast potentials to cheat, pose as users, etc., many think that a proper dating system ought not to emulate the features of Internet chat, etc., but rather focus on fundamentals of matchmaking. A balanced account, however, must admit that many services are very successful.
Design issues of dating services
There are many potential design problems in creating a successful dating service website
- A website where one has to pay to join can create an adverse selection, causing only desperate people to join. On the other hand, this can help ensure that the people on the website are serious about dating; but most websites allow anyone to post an ad for free and only pay to contact other people, negating this "serious" benefit.
- A website which seeks to incorporate broader elements than simple dating, such as a social networking website such as friendster may attract more people, and especially women, to a website. Yet these people might not be as serious about really dating.
- It is in the best financial interests of the service to keep communication between prospective daters on the website as much as possible, yet many desire to be able to use a normal instant messaging service to converse easily.
- Most users who have found a date or mate seldom elect to remove their profile or ad, causing the amount of users on a website to look overinflated, but this is usually in the best financial interest of the dating service.
- Websites which allow one to post ads for free but not respond to them can cause many people to create fake accounts
Net dating services operating as of April 2004 include:
- Date.com [1] (http://www.date.com/)
- JDate.com [2] (http://www.jdate.com/)
- Lavalife [3] (http://www.lavalife.com/)
- Match.com [4] (http://www.match.com/)
- MatchNet.co.uk [5] (http://www.matchnet.co.uk/)
- OkCupid [6] (http://www.okcupid.com/)
- Spring Street Networks [7] (http://www.springstreetnetworks.com/)
- True.com [8] (http://www.true.com/)
- Adult FriendFinder
- Yahoo! Personals [9] (http://personals.yahoo.com/)
- TrueDater.com [10] (http://www.truedater.com/)
See also: dating system, net porn service
Useful external links:
DatingDr (http://www.datingdr.com) Net dating tips, reviews.
Profile Helper (http://www.profilehelper.com) Improve your net profile.
Personals Search (http://www.personals-search.com) Net dating guide.
Free Dating Directory (http://www.free-dating-service.info) Online dating directory site - focuses on sites that offer free profile options.
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