Networking in Dating Websites; Yay or Nay?

In this fast-paced world, the versatility of the internet and digital platforms have been rendered useful for almost every aspect of our lives. Nowadays, everything has been digitalized and connected to the internet; more and more activities have taken place online, such as taking classes, managing your bank accounts, reserving your taxi… including your personal activities, like networking and even dating.

There are many available options of dating websites out there, with the most popular ones being capable of raking up 35.000.000 unique visitors every month (ebizmba.com). Most of the websites offer free registration with paid extra features.

Aside from serving its actual purpose, there is a phenomenon now that is currently happening in dating websites and apps; people who are there “not looking for relationships, just friends and networking.” This phenomenon prolly happens as dating websites and apps now has become more commonly known and has added certain features not available in other social medias, such as the swiping-craze started by Tinder.

The question remains; are dating websites and apps the right media for networking though? I have laid a few pros and cons whether this is a good or bad idea, based on my opinion and experiences.

Pros:

• There are a lot of people actually using it, from different backgrounds and different professions.

The information available in dating websites in general are pretty comprehensive; depending on the person behind every profile. Some dating apps and websites now has included the information of work history and current jobs, something definitely an add-on to our pros list. Professionals also usually fills more proportions in their profile, regarding their job or not, compared to others who are there just for “mingling”. The diversity of the profiles is also something to be deliberated when you are trying to decide to use dating websites and apps as your networking media. You can literally find almost everyone; from truck drivers to surgeons, accountants to government agencies.

• You can start from scratch, you don’t have to actually know anyone to know someone.

Thanks to the algorithm of the websites and apps, you can actually be matched with a CEO of an advertising agency from Italy without ever visiting there if you were to project certain traits related to their interest. Assuming that you are trying to find somebody related to your field, your interest and theirs should be pretty much alike; but keep in mind that not all dating websites and apps uses same type of algorithm to bring your matches to you.

• You are able to represent the best side of you, it’s the internet!

It is not necessarily a fraud when you are not providing false information in your profile, isn’t it? We are all safeguarding our social images in real life after all, the one you do in your profile is one of it. Much less like an advertisement, you show them your favorable traits, you don’t talk about the unfortunate ones until much later. Moreover, in dating websites and apps, usually the profile does not link to any of your real-life social media, keeping the name as an alias or username, showing them solely what you had prepared them to see, buying you some time to prepare yourself when the interaction starts to get a little more serious.

• It is on the tip of your fingers.

It’s the perks of the internet in general. You don’t have to leave the house, you don’t have to attend boring meeting and get ups, you don’t have to worry about the stain of red wine on your one and only decent white blouse cause you don’t have to wear it anyway…until the actual meetings come at least.

• It’s all more casual.

Of course, it’s a dating website. The last thing you should expect is someone to ask you to fill out a form. Sometimes a more casual approach is better, especially when you are working in a creative field. We are all familiar with the jitters of the formal meetings, aren’t we?

• People are usually more approachable in this informal platforms.

When people are in dating websites, of course they are expected to be approached. This makes people in dating websites seems more open and therefore, easier to approach; save you the worry of being coldly rejected after a long paragraph of how you are interested in them professionally.

Cons:

• Networking in dating website and apps might make you seem unprofessional.

But you can always take a personal approach first; as a friend. Work your way up from there and show your qualities. But all in all, some people just can’t seem to wrap it around their head that dating websites and apps are basically just social medias; they were all about personal branding and soft-selling.

• There will always be ones to say “This is a dating site. Take your biz somewhere else”

Well maybe they are just not as open-minded as you are, or they are in some very serious business of finding life partner, but they won’t do any actual harm to you by sending those messages, would it?

• Sketchy, unsolicited messages

Some dating websites allow all users send any kind of message to anyone they like. Some messages might be provocative enough to make you rethink your existence, some messages are just downright disgusting and cheesy. This is something that can’t be prevented, even in the commonly used social medias.

• People might not take you seriously

This is the most obvious cons regarding using dating websites and apps as networking platforms. With many cases of catfishing that happens in dating websites and apps, this is a reasonable concern on accepting offers, especially involving professional works over internet. In the end, it all depends on the experiences and intentions of the people in the websites.

So, after weighing the pros and cons, are you going to jump in this phenomenon or not?