It seems today that more and more people not only fall in love with digital devices, but also with their digital apps. This includes mobile versions of dating websites, the social networks that claim to help people find dates and even lifelong partners. There are millions of people throughout the country who are actively filing out profiles and engaging with various folks online, even fellow teachers.
As match.com famously stated about five years ago, armed with the findings of a research firm, one in every five couples that connected on their website ended up in long-term relationships, or in fact, walking down the aisle. (Read this blog for additional Match info.) With more and more dating sites and apps appearing on the scene, appealing to various lifestyles, is investing money to find love the best move? Or is it time to go back to old-fashioned ways of meeting a new love, like through friends, in a grocery store or at a social scene? Let’s look at the positives first.
Scouting Websites Versus Going From Bar to Bar
Many of my friends boast it was worth the investment to purchase monthly, to semi-annual packages, for $50 to $100 or more per website, to find someone with the same set of values. I can count at least half a dozen associates who went from being single, working people to married and rather quickly. They remember not only that they met through a specific site, but how good it felt to meet someone whose values matched theirs.
On a teacher’s salary, spending money on a membership on top of the actual date may be a drawback, but it could lessen the chance of running into duds. However, once you commit, don’t give up, as some people never take the second step. In fact, one-third of people on dating websites don’t meet up with anyone for a date, according to the Pew Research Center in this article.
Maybe you are just browsing websites or maybe you are serious about meeting up with people. The good news is there seems to be a dating site for everyone. You can find sites by religious faith, like www.christianmingle.com, by age group, like www.ourtime.com, or by various other personal interests.
Teachers are getting some positive promotions in the online dating world. The popular site eharmony.com gives 15 reasons why people should date teachers. Read about it in this article here. Could all of these sites make the process of finding love easier and more effective than the old-fashioned way, especially for teachers with busy schedules? It could be. Let’s look at the downside of online dating.
Going Online May Be a Turnoff For Your Career
Having your personal information out there subjects you to security risks and fraud. That’s what happened a couple of years ago when passwords were leaked on LinkedIn and eHarmony. Unfortunately, there are various scams and unsavory characters online, but the same thing could very well happen on a blind date, or at a bar, right? Check out this article from Consumer Reports about how someone used a woman’s social media profile and information as her own for dating purposes.
But what if you have nothing to hide and in fact are being truthful, and just being yourself, with your intentions? Still, too much personal information online can threaten a career. What if students, parents or fellow staff discovered you on a site? There shouldn’t be shame associated with it, but what if the information affected your career? When it is online, it is hard to keep anything private. This post from lifehacker, does not address online dating, but it does talk about the dangers of social media and how to protect yourself from embarrassment or worse consequences.
Whether you choose to browse websites for free, make a membership investment, or take everything offline, you still may benefit from a few ideas from the Millionaire Matchmaker, Patti Stanger, who shared her Valentine’s Day tips for singles here.
Teachers, are you on the dating scene and do you invest money on websites to help you with your search? Or do you prefer meeting people for the first time through friends, or at events, without any online associations? Are you married to a fellow teacher? How did you meet? We would love to hear your connection story. Share your thoughts with TeacherCents.
Melissa Heule, Freelance Writer
Image Credit: Olga Kuevda / Shutterstock.com
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