China and online dating
- By Eugene Clark
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, August 13, 2015
The Internet is not only changing China's economic way of life, but is also causing profound changes in Chinese society, including marriage and courtship, i.e. dating.
Latest figures from iResearch show that China's online dating services remain stable with more than 20 million unique users participating in the first quarter of 2015. The leading online dating services were Jiayuan, followed by love.163.com & Yuehui.163.com under NetEase, Baihe.com, Zhenai.com and Youyuan.com.
The reasons behind the popularity of online dating are many and varied. For a start, life in the 21st century is so very hectic and people are working such long hours that there is no time for finding a date in the normal way. Online dating saves time. Arguably the "screening" by people and use of algorithms enables people to find a closer match. Greater efficiency is achieved as users can create profiles, the computer can help match them or users can browse literally thousands of potential dates without ever leaving home or being drawn into undesirable contexts such as the "bar scene." Online and face-to-face courses are even available in some locations so that "players" can become experts in this new game and further enhance their chances of securing a great match.
China's migration to cities also plays a role. As families have become disunited and new and larger groups of individuals move to cities that are often large and impersonal, online dating helps to reform a new "virtual" community and enables individuals to find compatible "others." More people of course are also now connected, and with mobile technology constant and convenient communication has never been so easier.
China's increased divorce rates over the past couple of decades also mean that there are more people looking in the market for mates. But even worse, some, like Dan Slater, in A Million First Dates: Solving the Puzzle of Online Dating, suggests online dating in the West may be contributing to higher divorce rates.
Research about China is suggesting that the rise of online dating is also in response to social pressure to find a mate, especially on the part of boys who significantly outnumber girls in China. Left-over males and females (shengnan and shengnu) can feel immense pressure to find a mate, especially after the age of 30. Indeed, with China's ageing population, one of the fastest growing user-groups of online dating is the "baby-boomers," the 50-60 age group, many of whom are looking to re-connect with classmates and others that they knew in a distant past.
The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/eugeneclark.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)