Online Dating: Better or Worse at Finding Compatibility
Online Dating: Better or Worse at Finding Compatibility
Are apps superficial or a more real way to meet than old-school online dating options?
Mobile apps speed up the meeting process so singles can arrange a call or date quickly, Eastwick says. Too much information about a potential date may be distracting, he says.
“It is very hard to get a sense of personal chemistry from an online dating profile," he says. Dating apps that don't ask you to make a detailed profile "may save people a lot of wasted time and energy.”
Karen Levy, a 45-year-old pet-care entrepreneur in Atlanta, also likes the way Tinder allows users to make quick decisions. She also recently downloaded JSwipe, a similar app for Jewish singles.
“These apps are as close to organic dating as you can get without sitting at a bar,” Levy says. “The only information you get at a bar is really what they look like or what they are doing at that moment. Tinder gives you more, like their age. Tinder and JSwipe are fast tracking you to a date. It simplifies the process. If you are chatting [online] with people too long, you have too many expectations.”
While location and speed may be everything for some singles, other newer dating sites are narrowing the field in a different way. They match members based on shared ethnicity, religion, or background. These include:
ChristianMingle. The site’s banner includes biblical quotes and symbolism to attract Christian singles.
FarmersOnly. Using the tagline “City folks just don’t get it,” this site matches singles who live on rural farms or ranches.
Meld. This mobile app focuses on African-American singles, mimicking Tinder’s GPS technology.
OurTime. This site matches people 50 and older.
TimHop. This site focuses on singles with Asian backgrounds.
People who have strong political, theological, or social viewpoints tend to want to meet someone who falls in line with their views, says Misha ben-David, a rabbi and licensed counselor also based in Austin. But just because someone shares your politics or race may not mean you'll have chemistry, he says.
Eastwick says having these things in common with your date doesn't necessarily make it likelier that you'll be a good match or that you'll even be attracted to them when you meet in person. “That being said, there are certainly cases for some people where religion or race is a deal breaker,” he says.
Levy says she's willing to branch out beyond her religion. She’s used Jewish dating sites like JDate in the past, but is now open to looking for men who share her interests, if not her background.
“Jewish people may identify with other Jewish people based on shared experiences,” she says. “That was something I grew up with, but religion has become less important" than other things, like having a similar lifestyle.
Online Dating 2.0
Are apps superficial or a more real way to meet than old-school online dating options?
Cut to the Chase continued...
Mobile apps speed up the meeting process so singles can arrange a call or date quickly, Eastwick says. Too much information about a potential date may be distracting, he says.
“It is very hard to get a sense of personal chemistry from an online dating profile," he says. Dating apps that don't ask you to make a detailed profile "may save people a lot of wasted time and energy.”
Karen Levy, a 45-year-old pet-care entrepreneur in Atlanta, also likes the way Tinder allows users to make quick decisions. She also recently downloaded JSwipe, a similar app for Jewish singles.
“These apps are as close to organic dating as you can get without sitting at a bar,” Levy says. “The only information you get at a bar is really what they look like or what they are doing at that moment. Tinder gives you more, like their age. Tinder and JSwipe are fast tracking you to a date. It simplifies the process. If you are chatting [online] with people too long, you have too many expectations.”
Common Checklists
While location and speed may be everything for some singles, other newer dating sites are narrowing the field in a different way. They match members based on shared ethnicity, religion, or background. These include:
ChristianMingle. The site’s banner includes biblical quotes and symbolism to attract Christian singles.
FarmersOnly. Using the tagline “City folks just don’t get it,” this site matches singles who live on rural farms or ranches.
Meld. This mobile app focuses on African-American singles, mimicking Tinder’s GPS technology.
OurTime. This site matches people 50 and older.
TimHop. This site focuses on singles with Asian backgrounds.
People who have strong political, theological, or social viewpoints tend to want to meet someone who falls in line with their views, says Misha ben-David, a rabbi and licensed counselor also based in Austin. But just because someone shares your politics or race may not mean you'll have chemistry, he says.
Eastwick says having these things in common with your date doesn't necessarily make it likelier that you'll be a good match or that you'll even be attracted to them when you meet in person. “That being said, there are certainly cases for some people where religion or race is a deal breaker,” he says.
Levy says she's willing to branch out beyond her religion. She’s used Jewish dating sites like JDate in the past, but is now open to looking for men who share her interests, if not her background.
“Jewish people may identify with other Jewish people based on shared experiences,” she says. “That was something I grew up with, but religion has become less important" than other things, like having a similar lifestyle.