Social Networking
Online dating has been around since 1992 or so with the first sites being Kiss.com and Match.com. The popularity of this internet industry has exploded over the years especially in the aftermath of September 11th 2001. It is now a billion dollar industry. The first sites were geared towards people between the ages of nineteen and forty-five but now; focus is being directed to the “Baby Boomer” generation or people over the age of fifty. This shift has been made because of the popularity of social networking sites with the eighteen to twenty-five year old crowd.
Social networking refers to the grouping of people into specific groups that are delineated by characteristics like similar age or similar location. This can be achieved in a real-world setting of course but it is most used on the internet. Facebook.com, MySpace.com and Orkut.com are examples of social networking sites. These sites are not specifically meant for online dating but are an easy way of meeting new similar people. They make it possible to communicate and form relationships over the internet that can be extended into the real world if the users so desire. Also, since these sites are not only for online dating, a little of the stigma associated with this practice is removed. These sites are free as well and do not tie users into monthly subscription packages. Another advantage of these sites is that they are multi-functional – they help people keep in contact with people they already know and make new connections.
Because of the popularity on online dating, some social networking sites have created match-making applications for use by their members. These applications are useful but may not be as powerful as those developed by sites strictly devoted to online dating like DateAgency.com. DateAgency.com uses the Duet Totally Compatible System which has almost thirty years of research behind its creation.
