Online Dating Services

Over the years, online dating has become a preferred choice among singles to find their perfect match. Many flock to the Internet for a possibility of romance, and while not a few have been disappointed, a good number turned out to be successful in their online romantic quest. As such, online dating has become a multi-million dollar industry, with so many people willing to pay for memberships and premium services. The Online Publishers Association (OPA) in the United States said that Americans have spent more than $500 million subscribing to online dating sites.

The main business offering of online dating sites is to to match a mix of different personalities who are herded into the same market with one common demand – companionship that will eventually bloom into a romantic relationship.

Some online dating sites are free, with their operation costs funded by advertising revenues. These include OkCupid.com, AllSinglesMeet.com, and PlentyOffish.com, among others. One creates a log-in account, provide a profile, and buzz a certain person through chat service.

Meantime, for a monthly fee, paid online dating sites offer a more secure “mingling” and getting around the virtual party - professional matching based on specific preferences the client provided, anonymity as long as the client wanted and background checking of profiles submitted. Paid online dating services mostly cater to demographic clients, such as Amigos (Latinos), Asian People Meet (Asians), Jdate (Jewish) and Christian Mingle (Christians), among others.

Security and safety have become a major issue in online dating, and the U.S. moved to regulate its activities through the International Marriage Broker Regulations Act (IMBRA) of 2007, which orders online dating sites to do background check on their clients to safeguard others against child molesters, pedophiles and sex offenders.