Argumentative Persuasive Essay on Online Dating

Online dating is a way for people to introduce themselves to one another to try and develop a relationship. People who are using online dating usually are intending to look for someone to connect with and form some sort of a relationship, usually a romantic one. The first step of online dating is deciding which app or website you think will work best for you. There are different dating apps for certain people to cater to their personal interests. For example, there’s eHarmony, Farmers Only, Bumble, OKCupid, Tinder, and a plethora of others to choose from. The next step in the process is to create a profile. This is where people write a little information about yourself to tell other people what their interests and hobbies are. The bio is a short little description that sums up the individual, but also tells that the people reading the bio if they may be a match. Avoiding cliché interests such as taking long walks on the beach and adding genuine interest usually increase matches. Next, you evaluate other people’s profiles on the app. Once you match with someone, you can view their profiles to see if they are worth pursuing. If you think that you and one of the people you matched with might take the relationship somewhere and are infatuated by them, then you can start the online chatting process. This gives you the chance to really get to know someone. If the two people hit it off, then they can set up a date to meet up and possibly start taking the relationship further. Research has shown that, “66% of online daters have gone on a date with someone they met through a dating site or app” (Smith and Duggan). At this point in the world, humans are starting to rely more on their phones to meet new people to form relationships, rather than going out and meeting people.

The games of dating have changed over the years since online dating started becoming more of a trend than it used to be. Before the internet, the average person would introduce themselves to new people when they were out of their house, whether they were going grocery shopping, to the bar, or a restaurant or any other outing. If they were out at a party or dance, the dances performed usually required some sort of physical contact such as holding each other. This would allow them to connect with new people and possibly form a relationship. While they were out, if they saw someone they were attracted to, they would go up to them and formally introduce themselves. Both men and women would do this because that was the normal thing to do. It was also common for people to meet through mutual friends. A man or woman would be fixed up on a blind date by a mutual friend. Occasionally, two people would meet in the bar, but that would sometimes be considered dangerous to some people especially woman, just like it is considered today. According to Melissa Fleur Afshar, “In early 1995, an online dating service, called match.com went live, since then online dating has become a social phenomenon that has intercepted our smartphones, our daily routines, and our relationships, forging a 2.5-billion-dollar industry from our consistent usage” (“The Psychological Effect”). Now people rely on their phones and technology to meet people through different social media apps or websites. Around one in ten Americans have used an online dating site or mobile dating app (Smith and Duggan). For those who haven’t participated in any form of online dating, they most likely know someone who has. The attitude toward online dating is gradually becoming more positive as it becomes more mainstream.

Works Cited

  1. Afshar, Melissa Fleur. “The Psychological Effects of Online Dating.” Tmrw, 25 Feb. 2019, www.tmrwmagazine.com/features/culture/the-psychological-effects-of-online-dating.
  2. “The Beautiful Truth About Online Dating | Arum Kang & Dawoon Kang | TEDxUCDavisSF.” YouTube, YouTube, 27 July 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRWPqwyukGY&t=467s.
  3. Brogaard, Berit. “5 Unhealthy Relationship Patterns.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 22 Mar. 2017, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mysteries-love/201703/5-unhealthy-relationship-patterns.
  4. Danko, Meredith. “11 Results from Studies About Online Dating.” Mental Floss, 17 Oct. 2014, www.mentalfloss.com/article/59509/11-results-studies-about-online-dating.
  5. Eichenberg, Christiane, et al. “From Online Dating to Online Divorce: An Overview of Couple and Family Relationships Shaped Through Digital Media.” Contemporary Family Therapy, vol. 39, no. 4, 2017, pp. 249–260. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1007/s10591-017-9434-x.
  6. “Has Online Dating Changed the Nature of Human Relationships?” This., 13 Feb. 2018, this.deakin.edu.au/self-improvement/has-online-dating-changed-the-nature-of-human-relationships.
  7. Khazan, Olga. “A Psychologist’s Guide to Online Dating.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 8 Dec. 2017, www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/12/a-psychologists-guide-to-online-dating/282225/.
  8. Lusinski, Natalia. “Here’s How Many Millennials Have Been Ghosted.” Bustle, 24 Mar. 2016, www.bustle.com/articles/149528-heres-how-many-millennials-have-been-ghosted-by-someone-they-were-dating.
  9. McRae, Mike. “This Is How Online Dating Has Changed the Very Fabric of Society.” ScienceAlert, 11 Oct. 2017, www.sciencealert.com/this-is-how-online-dating-has-changed-the-very-fabric-of-society.
  10. Neuman, Fredric. “Dating: Then and Now.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 11 Jan. 2013, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fighting-fear/201301/dating-then-and-now.
  11. Roman, Laura, et al. “What Makes Us Click: How Online Dating Shapes Our Relationships.” NPR, NPR, 2 Jan. 2018, 5:01 AM ET, www.npr.org/2018/01/02/572259115/what-makes-us-click-how-online-dating-shapes-our-relationships.
  12. Seaver, Maggie. “It’s Official: Online Dating Has Had a Positive Impact on Modern Marriage.” Theknot.com, The Knot, 12 Apr. 2019, www.theknot.com/content/online-dating-and-marriage-study.
  13. Shatto, Rachel. “The Surprising Ways Dating Apps Can Affect Your Mental Health, According to Experts.” Elite Daily, 20 Jan. 2018, www.elitedaily.com/p/how-dating-apps-can-affect-your-mental-health-according-to-experts-7964252.
  14. Smith, Aaron, and Maeve Duggan. “Online Dating & Relationships.” Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, Pew Research Center, 24 May 2018, www.pewresearch.org/internet/2013/10/21/online-dating-relationships/.
  15. Vandersteen, Julius. “Negatives of Online Dating.” It Still Works, 10 Jan. 2019, itstillworks.com/negatives-online-dating-2834.html.
  16. Villarreal, Alexandra. “The Number of Cheaters Using Dating Apps and Sites Right Now Is Shocking.” Ladders, 14 Feb. 2019, www.theladders.com/career-advice/the-number-of-cheaters-using-dating-apps-and-websites-right-now-is-shocking.
  17. White, Tiffany. “Catfish Murders: True Stories of Killers Who Find Victims Online.” In Touch Weekly, 13 June 2018, www.intouchweekly.com/posts/catfish-murders-158410/.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Dating Essay

Writing an essay about online dating? It will be helpful to read through some examples first. Below, you will find one such online dating advantages and disadvantages essay.

Introduction

Online dating refers to an activity through which individuals socialize and get to know each other on the internet (Elisar 1). In developed countries, online dating has become a normal activity. In the UK, it is estimated that online dating sites attract up to 10 million users every month.

The history of online dating can be traced back to the late 20th century when the internet was invented. When the internet was first introduced to the public, people used to communicate via chat rooms. With time, spammers and criminals invaded the chat rooms and compromised their usability.

It was not long before dating websites emerged to protect those who wanted to socialize on the internet. Currently, dating sites have attracted millions of users becoming one of the most preferred means of interacting with people on the internet. Despite its popularity, there are risks associated with using these services. This paper focuses on the merits and demerits of online dating with respect to dating in a more traditional way.

Advantages of Online Dating

Unlike offline dating, online dating allows the user to interact with millions of people without having to travel. With offline dating, individuals have to travel across cities, regions, and sometimes countries. This is not only time consuming but also costly. It is estimated that using offline dating can cost an individual up to $100 in a single night. The cost is higher because it requires an individual to visit popular joints, bars, hotels, or nightclubs and have a snack or a drink.

Even so, there are no assurances that the time, attempts, and cash would yield a positive result. On the other hand, online dating will cost the user little or no money. Some sites charge little monthly fee whereas others charge no fee. The monthly fee charged by these websites are insignificant compared to the money spend on offline dating. Similarly, there are more risks associated with having to travel to meet strangers compared to meeting them online.

As suggested above, it is apparent that online dating increases the scope of search for those who are single. When singles join online dating sites, they get the opportunity to interact with millions of users. With offline dating, these people would not have interacted because they come from different offices, cities, regions, or countries. This implies that through online dating, singles can increase their scope of search.

Online dating increases the chances of individuals who might not otherwise get the chance to date offline. Individuals who are unable to attend social events or meetings regularly such as busy professionals, disabled, and single parents will find online dating sites useful unlike offline dating.

Similarly, individuals with small social circles such as tourists and recent divorcees will find online dating useful compared to offline dating. Other individuals who will find online dating useful are people who are shy, people who would like to know more about their friends before meeting them, and people who do not enjoy loud social situations associated with offline dating.

Another reason why online dating is preferred over offline dating is that it allows singles to meet other singles with equal interests with ease. Through offline dating, singles will have to date a number of other singles for them to meet like-minded partners. As such, those who have met their partners through offline dating attribute their success to fate. Through online dating, the success does not depend on fate because the service allows the users to filter their potential matches based on age, height, race, interests, and careers.

Equally, online dating unlike offline dating allows users to conceal their anonymity and have control over their relationships. In the society, there are individuals who are reluctant to let unfamiliar persons into their lives straight away.

Online dating will come in handy for such individuals because through it they can be able to control their relations without giving out too much information about themselves. Certainly, interacting online and finding strangers okay should not be considered as a guarantee that they are satisfactory. For this reason, the ability to control your privacy while interacting is appropriate.

Disadvantages of Online Dating

Despite its popularity, there are some disadvantages associated with online dating with respect to offline dating. Unlike when dating through conventional ways, it has been established that most of the people using online dating sites are liars. They lie about their attributes, jobs, properties, salary, and their marital status.

Notably, it has been identified that men lie about how tall they are, while women down play their height. Similarly, Toma and Hanrock did a study on the physical appearance of those using online dating (Knox 135). In their study, they noted that the lesser the attractiveness of individuals, the higher their chances of enhancing their profile pictures on online dating sites. With the use of offline dating, such lies could have been eliminated.

Similarly, with the use of online dating some people have been able to lie about their marital status. Research shows that 30% of those using online dating are married and often lie about their marital status (Knox 136). There are instances where married men have been able to maintain several simultaneous online relationships with other women.

These men managed to lie to several women and made wedding proposals to a number of them. Although the same situations can happen during offline dating, it should be noted that the extent of lies perpetuated through conventional dating is minimal and less severe compared to the lies perpetuated on the internet.

Another disadvantage associated with online dating is having unlimited number of options. On the internet, a soul searcher can find hundreds of options. The more the number of options, the less a user will be able to scrutinize each profile. Through offline dating, an individual’s option is limited.

This implies that he or she will have enough time to access the character of the potential partner. Equally, it has been found that many of those dating online have higher chances of breaking up compared to those dating through conventional ways. This can be attributed to the many options presented on online dating sites. Therefore, when hurdles arise in a relationship an individual will opt to dump his or her partner in favor of a better option.

Unlike through conventional dating ways, online dating increases the risk of meeting sex offenders and scammers. Because users can conceal their identities when using online dating, sex offenders find the sites attractive for their ill motives. These cyber criminals can overcome the security measures put by the owners of the website by using fake names.

Therefore, those using online dating sites should be weary of such individuals. They should not give out their home address, phone numbers, or other private details in a hurry. In general, there are a few risks of meeting sex offenders or scammers through conventional dating compared to online dating.

Another major concerned faced by those using cyber dates is security. Despite the fact that the owners of dating websites have put in place security measures, some cybercriminals can manage to crack them and steal information from their users. By obtaining the users’ email and passwords, cybercriminals can get access to the users’ messages. On the contrary, there is no security issue concerning personal information when an individual dates through conventional ways.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be noted that there are benefits and risks associated with online dating. Its advantages are online dating allows the user to interact with millions of people without having to travel, it increases the scope of search for those who are single, increases the chances of individuals who might not otherwise get the chance to date offline, and allows users to conceal their anonymity and have control over their relationships. Despite its popularity, there are some disadvantages associated with online dating with respect to offline dating.

Unlike when dating through conventional ways, it has been established that most of the people using online dating sites are liars. They lie about their attributes, jobs, properties, salary, and their marital status. Another disadvantage associated with online dating is having unlimited number of options. Similarly, online dating increases the risks of meeting sex offenders and scammers. Lastly, a major concerned faced by those using cyber dates is security.

Works Cited

Elisar, Shimrit. Everyone’s guide to online dating: how to find love and friendship on the internet. Oxford: How To Books, 2007. Print.

Knox, David. Choices in relationships: an introduction to marriage and the family. 11 ed. St. Paul: West Pub. Co., 2011. Print.

The Pitfalls of Online Dating

One of the biggest trends these days is for people to meet other people online. Online dating is growing in popularity not only because of the ability of internet programs to quickly and easily connect two people from sometimes vastly different areas, but also because there are many ways that one can ‘screen’ potential dates without wasting valuable social time dating people you don’t like. However, there are some major pitfalls to online dating that must be taken into account before one begins to engage in the practice. These include the very real potential for deceit, interpersonal elements of physical attraction are absent in the online world and the time involved in interfacing with the computer reduces the ability of the individual to interact with living people in physical form.

It is widely acknowledged that one of the greatest risks involved in online dating is that one is interacting with an individual entirely different from the individual they are presented with within the cold blue glow of the computer screen. “People lie. And they will say whatever they need to say to sell themselves. They’re creating a picture of who they think they are and putting it on the web” (Radetich, 2005). Even when photographs are exchanged online, these can easily be false either by the individual selecting a photo of someone else they found online or by posting an image of themselves at a much younger age.

Numerous elements of attraction cannot possibly transfer through the electronic blips and lights of the internet. Although online dating services will often enable you to almost hand-order the exact kind of mate you are seeking, things don’t work out so neatly in the real world. “In the real world … you may find more appeal in someone different in some ways” (Lawrence, 2004). For various reasons, the other person’s body language, preferences in how to spend their free time, or basic body chemistry, the individual who seemed perfect online may suddenly turn out to be all wrong in person leading to a profound mistrust of one’s own judgment and abilities.

Finally, dating online necessitates spending a great deal of time, often in a solitary room ultimately interacting only with the computer screen. When one dates someone in person, it is possible to go out to the movies, to bars, to parties, or other events in which interaction with each other is interspersed with interaction with others. Life is more social in the real world and, if or when the relationship falls through, there are friends available to help nurse the injured party through the fallout. However, if one has been dating online, everything is done in a solitary way, preventing interaction with other people, encouraging the couple to continue in isolation even when finally together.

While online dating can be fun and exciting, permitting one to meet some different people who might otherwise remain hidden in the obscurity of the city, some issues must be overcome first. Perhaps the most important of these is ensuring that the person being spoken with is accurately representing themselves, a difficult prospect even in real life. Next to this is making sure that there is some means by which the couple can meet in person, giving them a chance to interact with each other on a physical plane to ensure their habits and ways are compatible. Finally, there must also be a means by which the couple can engage with others as a means of avoiding the kind of isolation and loneliness they would otherwise be prone to if they should only speak with each other.

Works Cited

Lawrence, Jean. “Do Opposites Attract?” Medicine.net. (2004). Web.

Radetich, Nina. “Online Dating Awareness and Dangers, One Woman’s Story.” News 3. (2005). Web.

Dating Online as a Part of Human Life

Over the years, technologies have played a great part in human life. So many things have been transformed from what they used to be in the past. Internet is one of the tools that has gained popularity. A lot of things and information can be accessed through the internet. By just a click of the button, People are in a position to understand what is going on in the world as well as saving time when one needs to learn about certain issues.

Many things have taken new direction in the current generation of the world. In the new era of internet usage and technology advancement, sex life and dating style have changed drastically. Before its invention, people used to use letters to date among other methods for example, literally going to meet ones lover face to face. Currently most of the things that were done manually are done on the net. One of such issues is how dating have taken a new toll by having most young and aged people use internet to do so. As opposed to yester years, internet has brought much change on how some people are dating. Internet has made it easier for lovers to date and exchange their feelings online. It is instant way of expressing the feeling for example by use of chat and emails. One can easily get a lover in different country/ location regardless of how many miles they might be apart. Internet has also made it possible for people to be specific of their perfect match which is not difficult to find through internet. The technological advancement of internet has made cyber sex to be on the rise. Through it, people are finding lovers online and exchanging their feelings using the same media. The information they exchange is so explicit to an extent of having sex online despite the many miles they are away from each other. Many people are watching porn clips and videos that are available online. These have made it possible for even very young children to access it which is making them to have ideas of sex at a tender age. Since human brains can synthesize what they see, the porn materials are making even virgins to know how sex is done as well as how to employ different sex styles. Technology can be good or bad depending on how it is used. The changes that are experienced in the field of online dating and online sex are having negative repercussions to the society. When pornography is on the rise, most people including the young children might want to practice it, thereby starting sexual life at an early age. When this happens, the young children might get exposed to early pregnancies and more prone to sexually transmitted diseases.

Cyber sex is equivalent to cheating and those who are practicing it might end up having sexual problems in future. It is difficult to tell whether your lover does not have other lovers. Also some lovers may never meet in their life one on one. The best they can do is to exchange their feeling where some of them might be flirting and using internet to see how people from different cultures or countries behave. It is for this reasons that I think cyber sex can amount to cheating and also making people waste a lot of valuable time doing things they can not quantify. The practice of cyber sex is unethical. People are turning out to fantasies rather than being realists. These habits have even spread to married couples leading to conflict in marriage and failure of satisfying one another sexually. Since the internet content can be accessed by any one, the children will get spoilt at an early age, whereas the mature people might spend more time having cyber sex. This will affect their social life and get limited in developing some of social and interactive skills.

Online Dating: An Advocacy Campaign

Online dating is gaining more and more popularity with people nowadays, as it has a number of assets over actual dating: it is less time-consuming, and it allows the participants to combine other activities with dating. [slide 2] Moreover, such an option is good for people living far away from each other as they can try communicating prior to actually seeing one another, which can save them from wasting their time and eliminate disappointment [slide 3]. However, many research studies show that there still is a high rate of disappointment that is not connected with getting to know a person. On the contrary, it lies in not getting to know the person how he or she really is. Online dating allows people to hide their real identities and deceive those who are communicating with them (Lo et al. 1755). [slide 4] [slide 5] According to research, females are more likely to give deceitful information about themselves on dating websites. [slide 6] What is worse, dating websites are frequently used by maniacs or money fraudsters whose aims are quite far from being romantic. For instance, research by Whitty and Buchanan (182) shows that by mid-2011, there were nearly 230,000 victims of dating websites scams in Great Britain.

The proposed advocacy campaign is designed with the purpose of protecting people from the illegal conduct of those who use online dating websites to deceive others. What may start as friendly and romantic communication can turn into an attempt to scam internet users by playing on their feelings. [slide 7] As you can see, there are frequent occasions when internet users of dating websites establish friendly or even romantic relationships with naïve people and then try to take away their money by deceiving them. Unfortunately, even after numerous warnings, there are still many users who do not consider the scam problem seriously enough and think that it may happen to anyone but them. To eliminate the occurrence of such cases, serious measures should be taken which would disable illegal activity on dating websites.

Therefore, I suggest that biometric scanners should be employed by everyone who wants to use online dating websites. Such scanners are very easy to apply. A program scans the user’s fingerprint. After collecting the data, it compares it to the police records and checks whether this user presents any threat to other people. [slide 8] The demand for applying a scanner does not mean that the person will be banned from using social or dating websites. However, it will give other users information about the person’s past criminal record, and, thus, it will make people cautious about getting too intimate with such a person. In case when someone has a history of drug dealing, gender-based assault, or cyberbullying, such a user will be blocked out of dating websites.

The biometric scanner is an efficient idea as it is compatible with smartphones. The majority of such appliances have a fingerprint function used to lock and open the phone. The only kind of expenses one will have to pay is for the application services. However, a small payment for an app will save people from huge problems concerned with scams or bullying, the outcomes of which may be far more costly than that. Once such scanners are accepted as a policy on dating websites, people will have no other choice but to agree to use them. The biometric scanner benefits the users by ensuring that their privacy is protected and guaranteeing that the sites avoid damages costs.

Until scanning technology is introduced at the government level, people should be cautious about sharing their personal data and trusting others. [slide 9] It is much easier to predict an adverse situation than to deal with the aftermath. I am convinced that the proposed campaign will make dating more pleasant and will help to match many happy couples. Online or offline dating – it is important to remain cautious and sober-minded until you can totally trust a person. In my opinion, this process will become much easier with the implementation of a biometric scanner for using online dating services.

Works Cited

Lo, Shao-Kang, et al. “Contradictory Deceptive Behavior in Online Dating.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 29, no. 4, 2013, pp. 1755-1762.

Whitty, Monica T., and Tom Buchanan. “The Online Romance Scam: A Serious Cybercrime.” Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, vol. 15, no. 3, 2012, pp. 181-183.

Online Dating Start-Up Business Plan

Introduction

The project’s purpose is to start the online dating business that will help people to get in touch, acquire new acquaintances, and arrange offline meetings. Since online dating implies the meeting of unfamiliar people, safety measures are the priority. For this reason, along with the function of social networking, our Online Dating App will incorporate a good security system. By focusing on the safety of our customers, we will create an additional customer value that will presumably increase the success of the marketing strategy.

According to recent statistical data, about 84 percent of singles around the world used online dating sites and applications at least once in life (“Online Dating Statistics and Facts” par. 3). In the USA alone, the industry is currently on the rise – about 41 million adult Americans reported using the apps for dating (Davies par. 1). Although online websites and apps provide a convenient space for the search of potential mates, their use is associated with some safety issues. Researchers observe that about 20 percent of users registered in online dating websites are scammers or offenders (Mizzi 14). Since there is a large number of fake user profiles in online dating apps and sites, it is essential to provide customers with the system that would ensure both their security and confidentiality. The app will utilize the secure email and messaging systems, introduce the policy of voluntary background check-ups, and coordinate the security efforts with the local police department.

The trustworthiness and credibility of the product are pivotal for companies and consumers. Consumers will never commit their time or financial resources to services that do not seem credible to them and, for a firm, the lack of credibility substantially interferes with its growth potential. Since security and privacy are two of the main drivers of trust (Wendel and Frandsen 30), by integrating an efficient security system in our Online Dating App, we will be able to provide users with safety guarantees and, at the same time, increase brand strength and create the positive reputation.

Organizational Structure

Online Dating App firm will be a C Corporation in New York with a linear management structure. We chose the given type of business because it is associated with reduced financial risks and better access to the sources of financial support; it protects the company owners from responsibilities for losses and failure. At the same time, the linear structure of the organization is appropriate for enterprises with a small number of employees. It excludes hierarchy and, therefore, fosters more effective collaboration and communication among partners.

Along with two specialists in marketing and online security, the team will comprise two customer service specialists who will work 2/2 12-hour schedules. Since the users will be able to access the application online anytime, the presence of customer service specialists throughout the day and week is essential to provide all types of assistance to them if needed. For this reason and due to the limited financial resources, the owners will be also available full-time to resolve various organizational issues, support the hired employees and customers yet their working hours may be more flexible.

Background of the Owners

The first owner is Jingjie Chen, a graduate of Long Island University Post (LIU Post) from China. She graduated from the university with a master’s degree in communication studies and advertising and completed an internship in the UN. She obtained a profound experience working in her specialty in a television company. With this knowledge, she will help us to manage the advertising and promotion of our Online Dating App.

Long Chen is the second owner of the firm. He graduated from LIU Post with a bachelor’s degree in business administration-management. Long’s work experience includes consulting, business management, and marketing. For some time, he was employed as a consultant in LIU-iQ, a consulting company at LIU Post. When working there, Long obtained an opportunity to be a part of an international team. Daily interactions with professionals from Sweden, the UAS, and Norway contributed to the enhancement of Long’s communication skills. He also worked as a sales consultant in one of the Chinese large clothing manufactories. There, marketing research was one of his major responsibilities. This experience allowed Long to better understand product development and planning and improve decision making in this area. Currently, he owns a business in China and works in an international Import & Export firm on a part-time basis.

Feng Lin is the third owner. He is from China and currently works as a radio station manager there. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in China specializing in social media advertising. Since Feng is experienced in marketing and advertising in China, his skills may be used to expand the target audience of our business and enter the international online market.

Organizational Chart

Long Chen Jingjie Chen Feng Lin
30% owner (180 shares) 60% owner (240 shares) 30% owner (180 shares)
Customer service Chief Executive Officer; app advertising and promotion Social media advertising
Working as a consulter at school Full-time customer support Development of partnerships and collaboration with the NY police department

Marketing

Level of Competition and Potential for Growth

According to statistical data, the volume of installed mobile dating apps has increased by 3.5 percent each year since 2008 (Wendel and Frandsen 32). The users of dating websites continue to switch to mobile applications which indicates the growing trend in the industry. Due to this, a large number of online dating project has emerged in recent years, and the level of competition has increased as well.

Currently, there are many competitors in the online dating market. OkCupid, Glimpse, JSwipe, and Match are just a few of them. However, the NY-based Orange Dating can be considered our major rival because it focuses on the dating security system as well, uses similar marketing resources, and targets the same consumer groups.

It is possible to say that, nowadays, the US online dating market is saturated. One may find a great variety of sites and applications targeting different population groups – they may be developed to meet the needs of individuals from particular religious or ethnic backgrounds, for particular types of relationships, etc. Nevertheless, there is still room to grow in the industry. The primary requirement for success is a clear understanding of the target market and format because users of online dating apps usually have particular ideas of what they need (Davies par. 4).

Target Population

Online Dating App will have a narrow market focus. The target population will include adults of both genders aged between 20 and 30 years – the age when individuals seek potential mates for marriage and engagement in the family life. Although we intend to expand to the international market in the future, initially, the potential target market will comprise people living in the USA and New York, in particular. Thus, Online Dating App will have a specific geographical focus. At the same time, it is designed for single or divorced people from diverse multicultural backgrounds with different interests. The only common feature of our potential consumers is their belief in the importance and value of long-term relations and finding true love.

The young individuals often lead to productive academic and professional life. They engage in multiple activities that are essential for their success but which may also be time-consuming. Online Dating App is intended as a tool for busy and successful young people who are socially active but do not have a lot of time for dating. The potential app users are interested in balancing their personal life and leisure with career and academic performance.

According to recent research findings, people from 20 to 40 years old prefer to use the Internet to fulfill various daily activities, whether it be emailing friends and colleagues or online bill payments (Right Brain Advertising 2). This information verifies the presumption that the targeted consumer group understands the utility of the Internet and online applications, and will likely consider Online Dating App a convenient tool for meeting new people. Additionally, the research findings suggest that individuals younger than 35 years old can be impacted by advertising media much more than the older ones (Right Brain Advertising 2). In this way, by effectively aligning the interests of the potential consumer group with the project goals, mission, and vision, we will be able to increase the product attractiveness and stimulate users’ interest in the app.

Works Cited

Davies, Simon. “The Online Dating Market is not Oversaturated.” Tech.Co, 2015. Web.

Mizzi, Shannon. “Your Online Sweetie Might Be a Scammer.” Foreign Service Journal, vol. 92, no. 3, 2015, pp. 13-14. Web.

.” Dating Sites Reviews, 2017. Web.

Right Brain Advertising. ““. Right Brain Advertising, 2012. Web.

Wendel, Martin, and Emil Maltesen Frandsen. An Analysis of the Online Dating Industry and How Startups Can Compete. Master Thesis, Copenhagen Business School, 2015. Web.