1. Social Media & Dating
Presented By:
Shanika Robinson
Class:
HBD 4725/5725
Human Behavior & Development
Psychology of Adjustment
2. Defining Social Media, Dating, Social
Networking, and Online Dating
• There are no “Set-In-Stone” definitions
• Although these terms have become a “norm in society”,
research is new and ongoing
• The realm of social media rapidly changes
• Definitions vary depending on the application, field of
study, media outlet, professional/career path, and
context where they will be utilized
3. General Definitions
Social Media is defined as:
“electronic communication (as Websites
for social networking and micro blogging)
through which users create online
communities to share information, ideas,
personal messages, and other content (as
videos, etc.)”
www.merriam-webster.com
4. General Definitions
In order for social media to become an
interpersonal communication venue it
should have the elements of a:
1. Social Network
2. Micro Blogging
5. General Definitions
• A Social Network is “an online community of
people with a common interest who use a Website
or other technologies (email, blogs, vlogs, etc.) to
communicate with each other and share
information, resources, etc.”
• Micro Blogging is “to post very short entries, as a
brief update or a photo, on a blog or social-
networking website”
www.dictionary.com
6. General Definitions
Date/Dating :
1. a social communication between two persons that
often has a romantic character
2. a social appointment, engagement occasion
arranged beforehand with another person
Relationship(s) :
1. connection, association, or involvement
2. emotional or other connection between people
3. a romantic or passionate attachment
www.dictionary.com and www.merriam-webster.com
7. General Definitions
Combine Them All:
Social Media and Dating can be defined as:
Electronic communication (such as websites
for social networking and micro blogging)
through which users create online
communities to share information, ideas,
personal messages, and other content in the
hopes of meeting another person and forming
a potential casual or romantic interaction or
relationship
9. 5 TYPES OF SERVICES
1. General Online Dating Service
Provide full internet access to member databases.
Sign up and instantly browse user profiles
Some sites offer quizzes to help you find you
Require subscription fees to email a match
ex. Match.com, plentyoffish.com, zoosk, lavalife
2. Relationship Services
Target marriage-minded people seeking a serious
relationship
Required to fill out an in-depth personality profile so you
are paired with your best matches
Unlike general dating sites, you only have access to your
matches
Subscription fees
ex. eharmony.com, Chemistry.com (owned by Match.com)
10. 5 TYPES OF SERVICES
3. Social Networking Sites
Provide outlet for people to connect with old friends, while
making new friends
Becoming increasingly popular sites for people to date
Majority of sites are free to the public, no fees to view
profiles or email
ex. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Google+, Linkedin, Photobucket,
Skype (video chat ), OoVoo(video chat )
4. Niche Online Dating
Services look for one common denominator people must
share in order to be a part of their service
Subscription fees apply
ex. catholicmatch.com, christianmingle.com,
muslima.com, sugardaddie.com, millionairedates.com
11. 5 TYPES OF SERVICES
5. Merging Online Dating Services
Bring the offline and online world together
Put a profile on the website, then print business cards of
your screen name, internet address, and website
When you meet someone you are interested in dating, you
give them the business card so they can view your profile
and contact you through the service
Some merge dating sites have a dating coach/concierge
who looks at profiles on the database that meet your
preferences, emails the matches to you for review, and
arrange a face to face date with your interests
There are fees for this service
ex. Itsjustlunch.com (designed for busy professionals)
12. TOP 5 FEE- BASED DATING SERVICES
1. Match.com
Launched in April 1995. Pioneers of online dating.
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Services are found in 24
countries
2. eharmony.com
3. Zoosk
4. Chemistry.com
5. Seniorpeoplemeet.com
www.top10bestdatingsites.com
13. 5 MOST POPULAR FREE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES
1. Facebook
Launched in 2004
800 million active users
More than 500 million access the mobile app to view profiles
Worldwide offices (New York, California, Washington D.C,
Detroit, Dallas, London, Paris, Tokyo, etc..)
If Facebook were a physical country it would be the 3rd largest
behind China (#1) and India (#2)
2. Twitter
3. Linkedin
4. Myspace
5. Photobucket
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/social/
(Marketing/ Media Research firm)
14. INTERESTING FACTS OF FREE SOCIAL
NETWORKING SITES FOR DATING
• More Social Media Dating Networkers are using sites such as
Facebook either equally or more than fee-based dating
networks
• Sites are more transparent than fee based sites. Users can see
layers of a person's profiles (favorite movies, religion, education,
interactions with others, etc) of their interest without paying a
subscription fee
• People trust free social media sites for dating because of the
great deal of overlap between an interest’s online friends who
also may be their offline friends. The “actual self” of a person
may reveal itself more than the “ideal” self due to this interaction
http://www.statesman.com/life/when-online-dating-and-social-media-collide
1748205.html
15. INTERESTING FACTS OF FREE SOCIAL
NETWORKING SITES FOR DATING
• There is a lot of overlap between the social networking sites.
You can simultaneously network with multiple sites at once to
find potential dates with the touch of a mobile app
Ex. Tweetdeck (Facebook / Twitter multitasking app)
• Social Media is not just limited to your computer. Mobile apps,
smart phones, Android tablets, iPads provide instant access to
Social Networks and Online Dating Sites
• 97% of Social Media Sites are accessed by computer
• 37% of Social Media Sites are accessed by Mobile App
• Others include gaming consoles (Playstation, Nintendo
Wii, Xbox), internet enabled TV, e-book reader (Nook,
Kindle), and internet enabled music players (iPod touch)
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/social/
17. SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE DATING
POPULARITY
Marketing and Media Research Firm Arbitron Reports:
• 48% of Americans have used a Social Media site for
connecting with family, friendship, and dating purposes
•Demographic Profile of Social Media Networkers
78% - Teens under 18
77% - ages 18 to 24
65% - ages 25 to 34
51% - ages 35 to 54
Less than 51% - ages 55+
http://arbitron.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=682
18. SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE DATING
POPULARITY
In a Joint Study by Arbitron and Edison Media Research:
• More Women use Social Networks than Men- 57% vs. 43%
http://socialmediatoday.com/webmetricsguru/145143/social-habits-frequent-social-
networkers-%E2%80%93-edisonarbitron-study
According to the Nielson Social Media Report:
• 4 in 5 active users visit social networks and blogs regularly
• Social Media apps are the 3rd most used Smartphone apps
• Most social networkers have a college degree
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/social/
19. SOCIAL MEDIA & RELATIONSHIPS
• 96%- Keep in touch with old friends
• 91%- Keep in touch with current friends
• 56%- To Make New Friends
• 8%- For Dating Purposes
Dating- Related Activity
• 40%- Flirting
• 37%- Go to an online dating website
• 28%- Ask someone out on a date
• 27%- To find a face to face singles event
• 21%- Been introduced to someone online by a friend
• 18%- Search for an old flame or maintain a relationship
• 17%- Search for information on a current date
• 9%- To end a relationship
20. SOCIAL MEDIA & RELATIONSHIPS
Dating- Related Activity cont.
• 31% - Social Networkers said they knew someone who
used online dating site
• 52% - Reported positive experiences in online dating
• 29%- Reported negative experiences in online dating
• 22%- Said they were either living with, engaged, or
married to someone they met online
Dunn, D., Hammer, E., & Weiten, W. (2012). Psychology Applied to Modern Life
(10th ed.).Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth Cengage Learning (p 293-295).
22. IS ONLINE DATING LESS ENGAGING THAN
TRADITIONAL DATING ?
Surprisingly No:
• Virtual Relationships are just as intimate as face-to face and
sometimes even closer
• Many virtual relationships migrate to face to face relationships
usually after telephone contact
• Romantic Relationships that begin online are just as stable over
two years as traditional relationships
• Internet plays an important part in maintaining established
relationships, particularly long distance relationships
23. IS ONLINE DATING LESS ENGAGING THAN
TRADITIONAL DATING ?
Drawbacks:
• Internet users are able to create anonymity so self-disclosure
becomes riskier than traditional dating
• People may tell too much information about themselves to their
virtual partners before the relationship establishes
• Thee can be a high concern for people being honest. You can
become anyone in virtual reality
• Online representation of oneself may not be very accurate.
Social networkers may exaggerate their profiles to create a
great first impression
Dunn, D., Hammer, E., & Weiten, W. (2012). Psychology Applied to Modern Life
(10th ed.).Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth Cengage Learning (p 293-295).
24. CHOOSING TO TRY SOCIAL MEDIA AND
ONLINE DATING
Be Smart and Safe:
• Profile Pictures may not be accurate. Remember that the
person of interest could be very different from what you
imagined
• When you give someone access to your profile, remember you
are giving that person access to a lot of personal and private
information. Be aware of your profile privacy settings and don’t
share what you don’t want shared
• Be aware that scammers and sexual predators also use social
media sites dating sites. Research the person. Follow your
instincts
25. CHOOSING TO TRY SOCIAL MEDIA AND
ONLINE DATING
Be Smart and Safe cont… :
• Always meet your online interest in public places until you feel
comfortable for more intimate settings
• Keep “naughty notes and talk” to your direct message inbox. What
you post on your profile can travel in a matter of seconds
• Beware of “married” people on online dating sites that are designed
for singles only. They also post as if they are single and interested in
a relationship.
• Don’t put your home telephone, home address, or any information
leading to your physical location. Identity theft is possible and you
may receive “unexpected company”
http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/features/onlinedatingsafetytips.html
http://laurenhuston.com/dating-via-social-media/
http://www.brightlightsmycity.com/2011/01/dos-and-donts-of-social-media-dating.html
26. Social Media & Online Dating References
Dunn, D., Hammer, E., & Weiten, W. (2012). Psychology Applied to Modern Life
(10th ed.) Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth Cengage Learning
http://www.arbitron.com/home/content.stm
http://arbitron.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=682
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/social/
http://www.brightlightsmycity.com/2011/01/dos-and-donts-of-social-media-
dating.html
http://www.dictionary.com
http://www.edisonresearch.com/
http://laurenhuston.com/dating-via-social-media/
