A relatively new trend in online dating seems to have taken hold. Or at least, several online dating niche sites have been launched in the past couple of years with similar purposes: to turn your friends and loved ones into your own personal dating matchmaker.

The concept isn't new. People have been setting up dates for friends and loved ones for as long as dating has existed. But taking this idea, moving it to the web and then turning it into a social networking site for daters and matchmakers? Its an interesting concept that could work provided (a) you personally have enough well-intentioned friends willing to sign up to set you up, and (b) many, many others in no way connected to you do the same.

Cupid's Lab is one of many such sites, offering free memberships to both Matchmakers and Daters. Although their site is simple and the copy a tiny bit misleading (I'd highly recommend mentioning that anyone can sign up - including people in a relationship - only after explaining the concept), they may be onto something. Provided they can attract a large enough user base while keeping the site free, I doubt the idea of a social networking site for people looking to meet others for dating purposes would be a hard sell in the long run. A LinkedIn for daters, if you will.

Would you sign up for one of these kinds of online dating/social networking sites? For yourself? To recommend a friend? Why or why not?

Thursday November 1, 2007