Online
dating (OD) or Internet dating is a dating system which allows individuals,
couples and groups to make meet and communicate with each other over the
Internet, usually with the objective of developing a romantic, personal, or
sexual relationship. Online dating services usually provides unmediated
matchmaking over the Internet, through the use of personal computers and cell
phones.
Online
dating services generally require a prospective member to provide personal
information, before they can search the service provider database for other
individuals using criteria they set, such as age range, gender and locations.
Online dating sites use market metaphor to properly match people up. Most sites
allow members to upload photos of themselves and browse the photos of each
other’s. Sites may offer additional services, such as webcasts, online chat,
telephone chat (VOIP), and message boards. Some sites offer free registration,
but may offer services which require a monthly fee. Other sites depends
advertising for their revenue. And some sites such as Badoo are free and then
offer additional paid services in a fermium revenue model.
Many
sites are broad-based, with members coming from a variety of backgrounds
looking for different or verities types of relationships. Some sites are more
specific, based on the type of members, interests, location, or relationship
desired.
