Online Dating in Australia is allegedly worth $70 mill annual, and business is booming for both site operators and individuals seeking dates. Seeking a date online is becoming increasingly popular and many singles are registered on an average of three different sites.
So what’s the deal? Well compared to 5-10 years ago, most Australians now have access to a quality internet connection, either at home or at the workplace and we are becoming increasingly internet savvy. We have opportunity and we have the ability.
Our lifestyles have become heavily digital and PC oriented. Many of us use computers on a daily basis so it’s not a major behavioural deviation to browse thru online member profiles. Social networking platforms such as Facebook & MySpace have led the way and we are leading a more superficial lifestyle and building more shallow relationships than ever before. It’s easier to express one’s real desires and feelings whilst courting online and hiding behind the anonymity of a pseudonym, rather than face the possible rejection or embarrassment stemming from a real life face to face personal encounter. An encounter that may well have ongoing personal repercussions such as changing the workplace or seeking out a new fitness centre.
So online flirting is a fun, easy, anonymous, cheap, risk free way of seeking personal recognition and finding partners with a minimum of risk and effort. We can test the relationship by chatting anonymously online and if we’re compatible we can choose to meet in person. After corresponding and exchanging photos, we feel we already know this person. The first meeting is thus not really a blind date but rather the first opportunity to meet longingly in person.
Australian dating sites can generally be classified into mainstream dating (e.g. RSVP) or casual sex sites (e.g. AdultMatchmaker) although some hybrids do exist (e.g. AdultsOnly).Juggling both romance and sex on the one site is difficult as members are often put off by the long term romance desires versus the harder ‘in your face’ encounter concept of the other. The casual sex demographic is usually younger whereas stricter dating clients are around 28-48 years and actually more financially lucrative from a site owner perspective.
Mobile dating is the current trend to hit online dating and ranges from receiving member flirt and contact notifications on your mobile phone to being able to receive and browse member profiles whilst on the road. Another great mobile feature is the ability to enter your current location (e.g., Joe’s Icecream Cafe) and receive member profiles from members currently within your area and seeking encounters now. Such added features are of course available for a small additional fee and if implemented properly can be a lucrative add-on for site owners constantly seeking innovative and fresh approaches to acquire new members and retain the existing member base.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Relationships
By: fermina3560 | 14-11-2007
how do you know if aman is interested in you
Is he "hitting" on her?
By: AllisonG | 14-11-2007
here's my friend's situation..she is 25 years old and married almost 2 years. she's currently studying at the university and in her class is a guy about 30 years old who's married with 3 kids. she's convinced they dont talk often, just the usual hi, bye each day. but she says he gives her "eyes" in class. she is constantly catching him staring at her. is he trying to make a pass at her? she thinks he's extremely cute and she said she's actually thought about what it might be like to go out with him but she would never actually go through with it b/c she loves her husband. is this normal?
What words can you use exactly to talk dirty?
By: bunmi | 12-11-2007
what words can you use exactly to talk dirty?
Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy -- is it really over?
By: AllisonG | 12-11-2007
Chelsy Davy, 22, has reportedly ended her three-year relationship with Prince Harry, 21. Davy is said to have grown weary of Harry's "playboy lifestyle and lack of commitment to her," according to the Associated Press. In the September issue of Radar magazine, which sported a cleverly altered photo, Prince Harry's hard partying ways and the dozens of hired hands who try to hide his often-raucous antics were exposed. According to the Radar article, Harry's bodyguards often find themselves "intercepting bar patrons they suspect of trying to push Ecstasy on the prince."Do you think Chelsy made the right move? If you had a chance to date Prince Harry, would you put up with his "wild ways"? Or do you think Chelsy put up with it for way too long? Or is it possible this will turn out the same way as it did for Prince William and Kate Middleton (they got back together 2 months after breaking up)?
Pickup
By: bud | 12-11-2007
what is the best pickup line - if you don't want to be too cheesy?
When should I stop dating two at once?
By: Patrick | 11-11-2007
I am dating two girls for a month now. Non of them know about eachother. I am having a pretty good time. When should I stop?
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