Online Dating
Anyone who's ever tried dating knows that it can be a scary—and at times frustrating—experience. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a place where you could screen dates before ever meeting them, or let someone (or something) else pick potential matches for you? In this guide we'll show you how to use the Internet to do all those things. We'll provide you with dating sites for people with specific interests or lifestyles, as well as sites that evaluate all these online dating services. We'll even show you how to stay safe with online dating.
Most people you'll find in the online dating world have honest intentions; but just as there are ... read more »
Before you wear yourself—or your wallet—out signing up for every dating site out there, look at a few sites that provide side-by-side comparisons of site features or user reviews of dating sites. Some sites publish news about the online dating industry so you can always be in the know about new sites, or new features for some of the older sites. If you are having a hard time choosing between some of the sites recommended in other sections of this guide, many of the sites in this section will help you make that decision. Remember, before you can find the right date, you have to find the right dating site.
- Reviews of dating sites, as with reviews of anything else, will only be useful to you if you value the opinion of the reviewer. Before you commit to any one review or news site, try a few out to see what best suits you.
- Reading the chronicles of some long-time Internet daters can be a helpful (and amusing) way to see what you might encounter in the online dating scene.
For online dating service reviews ...
eDateReview
has user reviews of plenty of online dating services. Simply click on a dating category on the upper left of the navigation bar and you'll see what sites have reviews. Visit the "Read Reviews of ..." links to read user reviews. Because anyone can post a review, there is no guarantee that all reviews will be extremely useful (a few are just rants by angry users or praise that reads like ad copy), but this is true for any user review site. If you want to spend a little time reading what other people think about dating sites, this is a good place to do it.
TopTenREVIEWS
has an online dating report that charts the features of 10 of the most popular online dating services. Find out which service lets you search for members by certain interests, how each service matches you with other users, and the cost of each service (even a link to buy). This site reads more like promotional material in favor of online dating, but the online dating report is a handy way to see features side by side.
Web Dating
is a blog written by a self-proclaimed "addict" of online dating from Canada. Read her stories about amusing date experiences, hear tips about how to create an attractive online profile, and get reviews and the latest news in the online dating industry. If you are looking for a particular piece of advice, there is a search function on this blog but it is a little hard to find; look for it on the right side of the Web page (it is dark grey and blends with the background).
For online dating news or statistics ...
Online Dating Insider
is a good way to get updated on the latest news in the online dating industry. A clean design coupled with concise writing makes this blog one of the best out there for online dating updates, whether you are a dater or run a dating site. Unlike many of the other dating blogs, this one doesn't insert much personal info, so you'll get right to the interviews, industry developments, and site reviews. Also notable is the "Tools" section where those in the industry can find software, security, and other helpful resources to drive traffic to their social networking or dating sites.
Online Personals Watch
follows social networking and online dating site news. You'll find summaries and links to the original sources of news stories as well as multimedia interviews with some of the key players in the online dating industry. If you scroll down the homepage, you'll find key statistics for and interesting links about online dating and social networking such as the sites with the most user traffic or new sites to keep your eye on.
Online Dating News
from Topix aggregates news and blog posts about online dating from around the Web. Here you'll find links to stories about new dating sites, legal issues facing certain dating sites, articles about online dating, and more. You can even search for particular news items by topic, keyword, or geographic location.
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The most popular dating sites surely have a numbers advantage over some of the niche dating sites ... read more »
Matchmaking services are nothing new, but the ease with which you can sign up for these services ... read more »
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The Internet has transformed dating for all populations, but the degree to which it has enhanced ... read more »
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