Smart Phones Smart Enough to Find a Mate?
Posted by Nicholas Lizardi for BounceBack.com
We all have seen those Match.com and EHarmony commercials. According to Match.com 1 in 5 relationships start on an online dating site. Everyone seems to have a stigma of dating online but according to statisticbrain.com 40 million Americans have tried online dating out of the 54 million single Americans.
Related: Is Online Dating a Must These Days?
Now, with technology we even have dating applications for our phone. Dating is becoming more than just meeting at a bar. With online dating, you can preselect who you meet (no more trying to get away from weird people at bars) and best of all, you can do it from the comfort of anywhere you bring your smart phone. Here's a list of the most popular dating apps in America and some key information about them.
Match.com has over 20 million members with a 49/51 male/female ratio (suitable for gay relationships as well). The problem with Match.com is you can't communicate with other singles unless you are a paying subscriber.
However, with a paying subscription, you're allowed to email other singles and go on these new "Stir Events" Match.com has been promoting - Events where you can actually mingle with other members...in person! Free members can view other matches and send them "winks" but can't continue communication beyond that. With Match.com being the most visited dating site, the results are sure to follow. Perhaps that is the reasn so many people pay for it.
OkCupid has over 4 million members (suitable for gay relationships as well). This website is completely free and its members can communicate for free. They also have a feature where members can recommend a date and anybody close by can see the idea and choose if they wish to join. OkCupid has questions that members can answer and rate the importance of their answers and that's how they are matched with other singles.
Members are allowed to list what they're after: being it exclusively sex or a long-term relationship. Members can see what other members are seeking and search accordingly. And the questions one must fill out really help find you your perfect match. There is also a free OkCupid idating application for Blackberry, iPhone, and Droids.
eHarmony also has over 20 million members (they don't do gay relationships but they have a sister-company--CompatiblePartners.com which uses the same matching and is meant for gay relationships). eHarmony doesn't offer many things for free members besides being able to see other matches; however, you cannot view their pictures.
Paying members can communicate with other singles and view other members. Both members are given matches that eHarmony predetermines is a suitable match. Members must fill out a questionnaire which helps to provide scientific matches. eHarmony is meant for serious relationships and aims at matching singles for long-term relationships.
Zoosk also has over 20 million members (suitable for gay relationships as well). Zoosk free members are allowed to create a profile and search other members and send only one message - but that's it - and can only view a portion of received messages.
Paying members can communicate freely. Zoosk is based on filling out a profile about yourself and other members can view you and choose to communicate with you. Zoosk is up-and-coming within the online dating world.
PlentyofFish is completely free. Members create a profile about themselves and are allowed to view other members and communicate freely with them. Members can choose to fill out questionnaires about themselves and view other member's results. Members are allowed to say what they're looking for; be it friends, sex, or a long-term relationship. PlentyofFish is another good free dating app.
These are just some of the many online dating apps/sites out there. Online dating is becoming main stream with commercials even appearing during primetime TV. It's becoming an acceptable medium to meet people and you shouldn't feel weird about putting yourself out there, because there are people out there who were just as hesitant. Go meet those 40 million people who are trying online dating. You won't regret it.
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