Q: What characteristics of the web allowed for the great popularity of online dating services? (cellis)

A: Probably the fact that so many people were always using the web allowed online dating services to be so popular. The internet has been so deeply incorporated into poeple's lives that it made it more natural for dating to also be linked to the internet. (schilmeran)

A: The greatest characteristic of the web that allowed for easy dating would have to be convenience. It is much easier to get on the web and find a wife/husband than it is to go out in the real world and wait for single men or women to meet up with. Using sites like love.com or match.com put the user in contact with many single men and women at the click of a mouse. (cellis)

Q: Do you think that online dating services will fade out like a fashion fad or will they be successful enough to stick around? (schilmeran)

A: No, online dating has been successful so far in regards to helping people find their life-partners as well as helping people find people to casually date. As technology continues to advance, if anything, people will begin to turn to methods of online dating more readily. (ijoshi)

A: Because online dating services are on the Internet they will be around for a while. But the market will eventually be a commodity and be free. Competition will drive consumer costs down to zero. Companies like true.com will probably have to resort to making money by advertising for restraunts in your area.(ones that they hope you might go to on your first date)(JohnMark Purcell)

Q: It has been noted that online dating services have not been used just for finding a life partner, but also for a "fun date or simple companionship." Will these online dating services become used simply for fun dates or will a search for a life partner dominate the online dating services more in the future? (ijoshi)

A: I believe that there will continue to be a healthy amount of people searching for a life partner through online dating services, but the amount of people using it for a "fun date" will increase. Fun dates seem to be an increasing idea in our generation and I think since this is the internet generation the use of the internet to find fun dates will increase with time. (jstanley)