With the dawn of the Internet and the popularity of online dating, the dating scene has never been so lively. Gone are the days when singles would worry about where to get a date on a Friday or Saturday night. These days, all it takes is a few hours online or less, depending on your personal preferences and, presto!, your dating woes are over.
As a dating system, internet dating has paved the way for never-before-seen possibilities for single men and women. Individuals get the chance to meet online to explore the possibility of a romantic or sexual relationship in a free-wheeling and often unmoderated environment by simply using their personal computers, the Internet or cell phones. With today's unprecedented access to the opposite sex, it's "No More Lonely Nights" for everyone.
It's a simple system. Individuals list their personal information then look for others who fit their criteria in terms of age range, gender, location and other personal preferences. They may choose to upload their photos and look at the photos of others. Other supplementary services are also available to enhance online interaction, such as online chat, webcasts and message boards. Many of the dating websites offer free registration while others charge monthly dues. Websites often position themselves to cater to members' specific interests, location, desired relationship and other criteria.
Of all paid internet services, online dating or internet dating is by far the most popular, with Americans spending a whopping $469.5 million on it in 2004. As of last count (November 2004), there are as many as 844 lifestyle and dating sites, with the major players being Yahoo Personals, Match.com, American Singles, and eHarmony.
All this dating activity online has spurred many to speculate what the dating scene will look like in the future. Some opine that in as little as 10 to 15 years from now, the Internet will be the primary source of love, romance and sex for people and whoever insists on looking for these things elsewhere will be viewed as a romantic relic of a forgotten age.
Opinion is divided, however, on whether such a trend is a good thing or a bad thing.
