Online dating. What comes to mind when you hear these words? Do you scoff at the idea of complete strangers judging each other over a profile picture and a laundry list of interests and activities?
Do you cringe in remembrance of a failed cyber-inspired blind date of your own? Or, do you grin with the thought of your own success? Perhaps currently, your better half was indeed discovered with the aid of an online dating site.
Whether you love it or hate, the results are in. Online dating is proving to be not only a successful mode of meeting one’s soul mate, but an incredibly lucrative business.
Match.com has reported that one in every 1,369 dates made through their site leads to marriage. In subscription revenue, the company rakes in a whopping $1 million a day.
As some of you may be aware, there are different calibers when it comes to dating sites. Match.com and eHarmony, for example, attract an older crowd, one that is more serious about meeting one’s romantic partner, even future husband or wife.
It is indeed quite successful in matching individuals based on core values, ethical stances, common life goals, and personal physical preferences.
Then, we have sites like PlentyOfFish and OkCupid. These are generally known to be cyber hubs for a younger demographic seeking to hook up or date.
It is tough to refute the evidence that online dating holds to prove its validity. It’s also difficult for some to wrap their minds around the idea of meeting someone worth dating, let alone marrying, through the Internet.
I sought to find out the opinions of those on campus. How do students in their early or mid-20s feel about online dating?
Valerie Vasilas, alumna and former theater major, relays her own experiences in the online dating world.
“Online dating is the perfect outlet for my vanity and narcissism. You can meet people online without the forced commitment which often comes with meeting people offline,” she said.
Valerie’s outlook is on the subject is a popular one. Many students and alumni who gave their two cents on the subject feel like it is a good way to boost one’s self esteem.
Who doesn’t want to have an inbox flooded with “witty” messages from attractive 20-somethings?
Others don’t feel that way. “Why online date when you can meet people in the real world? Don't rely on technology to find yourself a romantic partner,” Lisa Shwartz, an elementary education junior who clearly finds herself in opposition to the idea, said.
She is not alone however, for online still maintains an eerie social stigma.
Whether you are looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right or Mr. or Mrs. Right Now, online dating has established itself as a booming industry and useful tactic for meeting new people.
In a world where face-to-face contact is becoming less and less necessary for everyday activities, finding one’s sweetheart seems to be following suit.
Reach the columnist at ebeckley@asu.edu.
