One of the main reasons people avoid online dating is because it seems to be an unsafe method of meeting that special someone.  You don’t get to see anything more than their picture and you can’t be sure anything they say is true.

Consequently, a lot of people are staying off line, but are also staying single.

The idea of background checks has become a popular selling point for sites like True.com.  By screening all of their singles, members of the site feel safer knowing that they are talking to the ‘real’ person they think they are talking to.

Or are they?

There’s a lot of discussion right now as to whether these background checks are actually all that effective.  After all, thieves and con artists thwart them in other situations, why is it so difficult to believe that they can’t slip past them here too?

Some people are crying ‘foul’ for these background checks as they generally are only a cursory check that doesn’t usually spot the liars.

But with potential new legislation making background checks necessary for online dating, is this combination of events setting up the online dating system for a fall?

If this legislation is enacted, more singles might come online, thinking that online dating is safer.  But since the checks are often meaningless, this might actually increase the dangers of getting online – more people = more problems.

In the next few years, this question is going to be something that people consider before searching for love online.  For if the checks in place aren’t really helping, then what’s the benefit to them?

Happy Valentine’s Day?

Just when you thought you had enough questions to answer on an online dating site, www.selectsmart.com and www.vajoe.com come along to ask you about your political affiliation and ideas. These online sites are taking the main idea of online dating and matching you up with the best candidate for you – rather than matching you up with someone to spend your Friday night with.

Okay, so you’re not going to find the love of your life, but you are going to answer questions about what you feel about abortion, immigration, taxes, same sex marriage, etc. This is going to help decide which candidate right now should get your vote in the next presidential election.

But, in a sense, you are trying to set up a ‘date’ with the next presidential election. You want to know what the candidates have to offer before you make your final choice. And if you’re not sure what you want, these websites can help you pick the right person for your beliefs and your current living situation.

Even if you have no idea who is running or what they stand for, you can get an inside look at their ideas and beliefs to help you start making up your mind.

Your love life doesn’t have to stop during the election year, but you might want to think about other candidates for your country too. Your love life can wait for one night. Online dating apparently isn’t just for love; it’s for matching up with the right leader too.