SA youth into online dating

According to Erken, Love Mail has over 30 000 current users, with about 32% of new users of the LoveMail online and mobile dating service under the age of 25 – the highest percentage across a single age group. Of this, 34% are female and 29% are male, which shows that online dating is becoming increasingly socially acceptable, no matter your gender.

Around 22% of Love Mail users are between the ages of 25 and 29, compared with just 10% in the over 45 category, so perhaps the uptake of the service amongst younger people also has something to do with their willingness to adopt and utilise new technologies.

“Younger people are just more open-minded. They are more open to trying new things and as part of the global village they have their eye on social trends internationally. They also don't seem to be bogged-down by historical ideologies that used to govern social behaviour in the more conservative South Africa just a decade or two ago.

“Trendy”

“Aside from that, technology has made personal classifieds so much sexier, transforming what was once considered the domain of seemingly dubious individuals into an efficient, credible and safe way for trendy people to meet other trendy people.

“At the same time, people are able to protect their privacy by selecting not to make their personal contact details openly available. The functionality that technology provides, such as being able to upload and view photographs, also makes Internet dating much more attractive than replying to a ‘faceless' personal ad in a newspaper,” says Erken.

According to Erken, the number of personal adverts placed on Love Mail's website, as well as the number of users on the site, is continually growing and this is buoyed by the equally promising uptake and growth of the mobile dating service.

Since its launch in April 2006, the number of users logging onto the site via the Love Mail mini-browser, which provides instant and easy access to thousands of love-match opportunities on the Love Mail site, using any WAP-enabled cell phone, has increased significantly. And, Love Mail expects this trend to continue as Internet and mobile dating become more socially acceptable and popular.

Take precautions

Love Mail advises all users, particularly teenagers, to take precautions when meeting people online – just as they would in the real world. The website provides the following tips for fun but safe online dating and chatting:

1. ALWAYS remain anonymous and if you decide to give out personal info be sure it's someone you can trust.
   
2. ALWAYS meet in public places, use your own transport and tell a friend. If possible take a friend along.
   
3. ALWAYS follow your intuition. If you don't feel comfortable then DON'T.
   
4. Be honest while interacting online – you could end up meeting this person.
   
5. If they ask for your contact number rather ask for theirs and call when you feel comfortable.
   

“This advice is not meant to scare or discourage people... It just serves to remind people to be responsible and play it safe. Just as you can encounter wierdos in the real world, you may come across some questionable characters online,” Erken concludes.