Browse > Home / The Basics / Difference Between Social Network Sites and Old fashioned Dating Sites

Difference Between Social Network Sites and Old fashioned Dating Sites

April 15, 2008

As the Internet has grown and spread world wide, it should come as no surprise that people are using the Internet as a means for meeting new people.  Today, the Internet is the catalyst for starting new friendships, finding lost loves and being virtually introduced to new ones, and advancing your professional network.  However, when it comes to Internet dating sites and social network sites, there are a few differences.  Every Internet site is not the same.  Understanding these differences will help ensure that you can choose the site that will best meet your needs and live up to your expectations.

The first main difference between social networking site and dating sites is cost.  The majority of social networking sites are free to join and use.  In fact, the major networking sites, such as Bebo, Facebook, and MySpace are 100% free to use.  This is a major advantage to many people.  It doesn’t cost anything to browse through other user’s profiles and to send a request for him or her to join your network.  Without any major effort or time commitment, you can easily build up your network and meet a number of new people.  Social networking sites are designed to allow users to create a public profile and browse through other people’s profiles, thereby initiating contact with those whom you believe you will have something in common with.

Dating sites operate differently from social networking sites.  First, dating sites are not free. They are designed to provide a service and play the role of matchmaker.  There is also a third party involved with dating sites.  For instance, dating sites may use different methods to help determine which couples would likely get along with one another.  The dating sites are geared and designed towards ensuring that couples meet and make a romantic connection.  This is not the case with social networking sites - put simply, dating sites are designed for romance and social networking sites are designed towards friendship and networking for work related goals.

Every company has a target market base; this is true when it comes to both social networking and dating sites. Though many people may find true love through a social network site, these sites aren’t targeting singles or those looking for dating and relationships in general.  Most social networking sites target teens, young adults, and those who are looking to create networks of friends.  This creates a wide gap and constitutes the basic differences between both dating and networking sites.  Dating sites are targeting singles and those who sign up for memberships are interested in pursuing a romantic relationship.  They are not looking for simple friendship; therefore the company must spend more time in helping the user create his or her profile.  With the influence being on creating relationships, members who pay for a subscription to a dating site expect certain results.  They also expect a higher degree of privacy then is normally accompanied with social networking sites. 

As more people are looking for relationships, dating sites will continue to grow in popularity as they offer a more tailored service then social networking sites.

Written by admin · Filed Under The Basics 

Close
E-mail It
Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape