Love Is In the Air... and On the Web

With Valentine’s Day only a week away, love is definitely in the air. It is a day in which couples celebrate love, singles mope with friends and people consume a lot of chocolate. In today’s world, it is easier than ever to find a valentine or a special someone thanks to online dating websites. These websites generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the United States each year. While cyber-dating is something that became popular within the past ten years, the idea has been around much longer than that and has evolved into an extremely successful business which uses personal information to create personal relationships. 

            

The earliest uses of information technology for dating goes back to 1964 and a man named Lewis Altfest. At the World’s Fair in Queens, New York, he came across a display called the Parker Pen Pavilion. At this booth, Altfest filled out a questionnaire, placed it into a smart machine and received a card with contact information in return. He gained a contact for a pen pal with similar interests to his own. This idea, of matching people's information and personalities, inspired Altfest to apply this concept to match making and ultimately develop Project TACT (Technical Automated Compatibility Testing). The business he created charged individuals five dollars and provided them with a match making service and five potential mates. Consumers filled out a lengthy questionnaire and then a computer generated matches based on questionnaire compatibility. At the time, this was a great way to connect people in the same area with one another. Over the years, more and more match making businesses opened up around the country; utilizing technology and algorithms to match people in the hopes of finding love. (To learn more about the history of online dating, check out this article from the New Yorker Looking For Someone. It delves further into the past and present of online dating).

            

The creation of these match-making businesses were not a necessity for society but rather something that made dating easier. As we see today, most of technology isn’t necessary in our lives, but it increases efficiency. Project TACT, along with other businesses of the like, used technology to help individuals find a compatible match. With the rapid growth of technology, the business of match-making has transformed into an extremely profitable industry. Rather than meet someone and hope it works out, technology has enabled individuals to enter information online and with an algorithm, match them to a compatible partner.

            

With the rise and popularity of the Internet, match-making practices took a new form as online dating.  In 1995, one of the first dating websites, Match.com was launched. Just like Project TACT, Match.com relies on questionnaires and advanced technology to match personalities. However, most online dating users prefer to do their own searches for potential partners. People are even willing to pay for love, especially when the statistics are promising. According to a study done my Match.com, 1 in 5 relationships start online (check out the study here if you want to learn more).  Since 1995, hundreds of dating websites have evolved that cater to niche markets and different interests. Jdate is catered toward Jewish singles. BeNaughty targets individuals just looking for a night of fun rather than long-term relationship. Grouper sets up groups of friends and is attractive for people who prefer to socialize in-group settings. The Ashley Madison Agency, sets married people up to have affairs. When it comes to online dating, the sky is the limit.

            

The business of online dating has grown exponentially since it was first introduced. More and more singles are utilizing these websites to find love and I think it is a great use of technology. Dating websites are enabling people to make connections with someone they would have never met before if they had not resorted to using an online tool. Further, it is keeping up with modern society. Today, people are living in a fast-paced world where things are happening so quickly. Online dating creates connections between two people faster than traditionally ways of meeting people such as going to a bar or party. The information is previously given, before even meeting the person which eliminates a whole step in dating. As well, the rise of niche online dating sites makes it easier for minority groups to find partners. Specifically, dating websites geared towards gays and lesbians are helping homosexuals connect and find love within a small community.

            

While I think online dating is a great tool, users need to take caution and be aware of its flaws. This CNN article by Larry Magid, discusses online dating and highlights some of its gray areas. The article explains that many people lie about their age and edit their main picture to make them look better. It is important to be advised that what you see many not be what you get. Further, the article shares a story about an individual on a dating site seeking to find someone who would wire her money. This person had created a false identity and had no intention of looking for love. To ensure security, the article recommends avoiding your first and last name as well as keeping your email address private. As with anything on the web, it is important to keep caution and not give away too much personal information.

            

With online dating, new connections are being made daily and more marriages are created.  People no longer have to leave their home to meet and talk to other people. Rather, they just enter some information and are given potential soul mates. The online dating business is extremely profitable and successful. Through online dating, technology has brought society to new heights… and love to new hearts.