How Real Should Virtual Dating Be?
Virtual dating is proving to be a highly effective tool for improving online user experience and real life success, as well as increasing user activity, time on site, etc.
As this technology continues to evolve, an interesting question arises: How “real” should virtual dating be?
There seem to be two perspectives.
According to the first, “virtual” dating should be as close to “real life” as possible. According to this view, the purpose of virtual dating is to REPLACE elements of the face-to-face dating process, and the ultimate benchmark of effectiveness is how closely “virtual” resembles reality.
According to the second, “virtual” dating should FACILITATE the real life dating process (as opposed to replace it). From this perspective, virtual dating could be any computer-based interaction that helps 2 people get to know each other better. The benchmark of effectiveness in this case is how well virtual dating helps people establish a meaningful connection.
I personally subscribe to the latter perspective. The ultimate objective of virtual dating is to help create relationships … let’s not get caught up in the technology side of things.
Consider this; we watch our favorite movies not because they closely RESEMBLE real life, but rather because they make us FEEL certain emotions … such movies create short fantasies that are rooted in reality and impact us in very real ways.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Tags: Online Dating, Virtual Dating