General News

Online dating is going strong, but another digital avenue people are using to meet others includes something a little more - public.

Many singles are turning to social networks - Facebook, Twitter, and even Yelp to find love. While online dating sites still remain a popular way to connect romantically, people are starting to think outside the box. But what exactly does this mean?

We spend a lot of time online, and especially on social networks. We go to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and the like to connect with others multiple times a day - to see what's going on in the world, and to talk about things that interest us. It's only natural to look through friends of friends for potential dates, or to check out the comments people make, to see if there might be a digital connection.

The Huffington Post even talked about Yelp being a place where romantic connections are made, simply because people connected to someone else's writing or the kind of critiques and praises they gave to certain restaurants, bars or coffee shops in their areas.

The idea behind using social networks to meet others, even romantically is this: when you can talk about a shared interest, it's easy to start a casual conversation, flirt, and eventually meet in person. It takes the stress out of dating by - well, taking the dating out of it - like the profiles and awkward emails explaining what you're looking for in a partner.

So what exactly does this mean? Just because someone is on Facebook or Twitter doesn't mean they're single - so are people just taking more chances and asking someone out anyway? Or is it a more relaxed and easier way to start talking and eventually meet up? Is there more risk to reaching out through these social networks, that you might not get someone who's truly interested, or looking, or even honest?

It's true that many people lie in their online dating profiles. But social networking sites don't always accurately reflect information either - like whether or not someone's already married or in a relationship. It's good to find out in person how available they are before you get too involved online.

While social networks make it easier for people to meet, so do dating sites. I think the more avenues you have to meet people, the more opportunities you have to meet the right person. Matching algorithms don't always mean love, but neither does liking the same bands. Sometimes, it's intangible - what attracts two people. So shouldn't you keep an open mind and look at the many ways you can meet, online and offline? Love is all about taking chances.

To find out how different social networks like Facebook and Meetup stack up when someone is searching for love, you can check out our Social Networks review category.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to your new favorite thing on the Internet.

It's called "Thats Not OkCupid" and it's the brainchild of Christopher Cantwell, an OkCupid moderator who has been exposed to all the best and worst the site has to offer.

Cantwell did not set out to become an OkCupid moderator but, like many others in his position, he was tapped from the site's userbase just 6 months after joining. He joined the ranks of those who are tasked with reviewing posts flagged by OkCupid users and marking the profiles "deleted," "left alone" or "can't tell."

Guidelines include "No nudity," "No spamming," "No hate speech," and "No commercial solicitations." A moderator can see comments and rulings from other moderators, but can't see the moderators' names or the ultimate decisions made on issues. Though Cantwell never had ambitions to join the lofty ranks of the OkCupid moderators, he was notified that he had randomly been selected for the position and suddenly found himself with access to a side of the site that most never see.

"Most of it is kind of frivolous," he told the Huffington Post. "Out of a few dozen [complaints], I'd say I've only flagged two or three for deletion." His new gig has, however, provided interesting insight into the minds of online daters and the inner workings of the industry.

When asked what he's learned about people since becoming a moderator, Cantwell says "I've learned that people are nitpicking and if they see something they don't like, they'll flag it for no good reason." He also says he's seen plenty of nude photos and scammers, but isn't phased by most anything he encounters.

The one exception was an experience with child pornography. The FBI demanded that the illegal images be kept intact, because they were in the midst of an active investigation and wanted to see who was accessing it. Cantwell called the experience "pretty disturbing."

He doesn't appear to be taking much away from his experience as a moderator. "People are nosey busybodies," he says, and when asked why he thinks people act the way they do online, his answer is simply "because they're *ssh*les."

"I really have no faith in the human race," he emphasizes. "I look at this stuff, I look at politics and I think people are idiots and there's just no hope for them."

What a cheery and uplifting outlook on humanity. At least it produced a hilarious blog.

To find out more about the dating site you can read our OkCupid review.

eHarmony is having a free communication event this weekend which starts Friday November 16th and runs to Monday November 19th. This 4 day event is available on both eHarmony US and Canada websites.

This probably will be the last free communication event until the Christmas Holidays so if you are thinking of trying eHarmony this fall, over the next few days would be a good time to try it out to see if you like the dating service. So how does free communication work at eHarmony? If you do not have a membership yet you first need to create one. This will just take you a couple of minutes. Once completed you will then need to complete the personality profile. This is the key to how eHarmony is so successful at matchmaking so you need to complete it truthfully and accurately. It takes most people about a half an hour to do. If you run out of time and cannot finish the personality profile that is not a problem. You can save what you have completed and finish it at a later date. A basic membership and personality profile at eHarmony is always free and so is receiving matches. Once you have finished the profile eHarmony will send you your first batch of matches. When the free communication event starts you can then send messages to one or more of your matches at no cost. Free communication weekends do not include photos and Secure Call (a phone service). No credit cards are required so there is no obligation and who knows, maybe you will find a date for this Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday! 😉

The last free eHarmony communication weekend was during the Labor day long weekend (see Story). By our count on eHarmony.com this free communication event with be number 42.

To find out more about this dating site which helps singles create long-term relationships, please read our eHarmony review.

You may not have heard of IAC, but you've definitely heard about what IAC is doing.

Back in 2005, the Internet-focused conglomerate owned a diverse range of businesses that included Expedia, the Home Shopping Network, and Ticketmaster. All were fast-growing businesses, but they failed to work together as a coherent whole.

Over the next three years IAC streamlined, whittling down its assets to 23 businesses and more than 150 Web and media-related brands. Now, in 2012, IAC's ventures total 5.91 billion pages views per month.

IAC will continue to transform, but one thing is certain: the company isn't going away any time soon. Its two main businesses - online dating and Internet search - are thriving and show no signs of doing anything but that for a long time to come. IAC dominates the online dating industry as owner of Match.com and 30 other dating sites, and offers search services through Ask.com and a collection of apps.

Some think of fall as the time for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Others think of fall as time for the celebration of Movember, a tradition run since 2004 by the Movember Foundation.

What is Movember?

Movember is an annual, month-long event that hopes to "change the face of men's health" by raising awareness of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and other men's health issues. On November 1st, Movember participants - known as Mo Bros - begin the event clean shaven. For the rest of the month, Mo Bros grow and groom their 'staches and raise money for the Movember Foundation by seeking sponsorship for their efforts. At the end of the month, Mo Bros celebrate their achievement by throwing a Movember party or attending one of the official galas held around the world.

This year Zoosk is celebrating the month of Movember by surveying members about their thoughts on facial hair and how it plays out in their relationships. Here's what they found:

Facial hair is becoming more popular in America.

• Only 50% of American men say their father had facial hair.
• But today, 64% of American men report having facial hair.
• "Mustache" may be a French word, but only 40% of French men currently embrace facial hair.

The most common reason for growing facial hair is confidence.

• 44% of men around the world say they feel more confident when they have facial hair.
• Other common reasons for growing facial hair are: to feel more attractive, to feel more sophisticated, and to feel more intelligent.

The majority of women are a-ok with facial hair, and the goatee is their favorite form.

• 80% of American women and 69% of women in the UK and Canada don't mind their men with facial hair.
• But most women in Australia, France, Mexico and Denmark prefer clean-shaven men.
• The goatee is the preferred form of facial hair, as voted by 36% of American women, while the soul patch is the least-liked form.

Participating in Movember might actually increase your chances of finding love.

• 63% of American women say that they would be more open to romance with a man who grew facial hair for a worthy cause.
• Only 27% of French women say they would feel more romantic with a man who grew facial hair for a cause.

Men and women disagree over which celebrity sports the best facial hair.

• More than 50% of women think it's Johnny Depp.
• Men, on the other hand, say Depp's facial hair is second to James Bond himself: Sean Connery.

See the infographic here. To find out more about this dating site you can read our Zoosk review.

We have added a new review to the United Kingdom dating category for the dating service called “Girls Date For Free”.

As the name suggests females on GirlsDateForFree.com can use the site for free while men are required to pay if they wish to communicate with other members. The thinking behind this is, if the women do not have to pay for the service, more of them will use it. And, as you know, where the women are, men will surely follow.

GirlsDateForFree.com has become very popular in Europe where the site sees over 350 thousand visitors every month. Over the last year they also have been gaining traction in North America. The site appears to have a younger demographic and singles use the site more for finding a good time than searching for long-term relationships.

To find out more about this British dating site you can read our new Girls Date For Free review now.