Model Notes- Online Dating

Hi everyone,

Here are the model notes from today's practice.  I hope they help you to prepare for tomorrow's assessment!

=-)
Jennifer


Model Notes:
- online dating – 15yrs old

- can become addictive bc of human need to be loved

→ profiles lie!

- women lie about weight/ men about height

- ppl lie about age --- less than expected

- want to be honest and attractive at same time



→ maybe already married?

- useful tool for infidelity/cybersex

- don’t consider cheating- just looking for excitement

- could → problems in marriage



→ can help singletons

- can help those with limited social circles or career restrictions (ie: traditionally gay fields)

- useful for minorities looking for others like them

- can be specific to certain groups

            Ex: Jdate for jews, and Shaadi.com for Indians

- most important factor → reply: age, ethnicity

- the most popular respond less



→ accurate marriage stats?

- Eharmony (online dating site) tested success of traditional vs. online couples

- Eharmony customes happier than traditional couples- but flawed results bc couples together less time → 'honeymoon effect' (Viegas, 2010)

- survey of UK online daters (by Uni. of Bath in 2005)- online dating more successful than anticipated → but only 8% of users in relationships lasting 2+yrs

- an increase in divorce rates overall (and more after online dating began→ ?? connected?)



→ useful but not a replacement for traditional methods

- can help some but perseverance v. important if looking for long-term love



Source: Viegas, Jennifer (12/2/10). Online Dating: Despite flaws, a fruitful tool. Msnbc.com (accessed 12/2/10)



Summary:

This article discusses online dating and its potential as a tool to find love. Statistics have not proven the success of online dating, but it has clearly worked for some people. However, there are causes for concern. Firstly, people can lie about their profiles as there is a struggle for users to be both honest and attractive. Furthermore, there is the potential for the person you meet online to already be married, as it has become a tool for infidelity. While there are drawbacks to online dating, it can help singletons find love. For those with limited social circles or professions, it can be very useful. It can also help to unite minorities looking for people similar to themselves, through sites such as Jdate.com that are used for Jews to meet someone of the same ethnicity. While there is a rise in the level of divorce in the USA, the connection to online dating remains to be seen. The important thing to remember is that online dating can help some people, but it is not a replacement for traditional dating methods.

Source: Viegas, Jennifer (12/2/10). Online Dating: Despite flaws, a fruitful tool. Msnbc.com (accessed 12/2/10)