Transcript: Match.com Interview

On Dating
Episode “Match.com interview”

Andrea Syrtash: Today on ON Dating we will talk about how dating sites, a 700 million dollar venture have grown and changed since they popped up in the early and mid nineties. I didn’t even have email then, I am Andrea Syrtash, and this is ON Dating.

Do you know someone who has met their significant other online?

Woman on street: I actually met an American lady the other day and she met her husband to be, online.

Man on street: I know a lot of people who have met people through online dating services.

Woman on street: I have two friends actually, one I already went to the meeting. And one the already met. At fist actually I think that they had to go out a few times before they hit it off.

Woman on street: I have two friends who are getting married in a couple of weeks and they met online.

Man on street: My girlfriend who I live with and have lived with for the last seven years I have met online.

Andrea Syrtash: We are in the studio today with Doctor Ian Kerner, a relationship expert with match.com, the world’s largest internet dating site. Welcome Ian.
Ian Kerner: Hi Andrea.

Andrea Syrtash: Nice to meet you, so what do you tell people who say there is a stigma with dating people online?
Ian Kerner: I say get over it. There is over a hundred million singles out there and I honestly bet that if you ask the vast majority of them, they would say thy now people who have met online. They are going online, or they are open to the idea of going online for dating. As an example at match.com I think there alone 500,000 people said they were now in relationships that were life changing.

Andrea Syrtash: Half a million people.

Woman on street: Half a million in one year. So I think get over any stigmas, the internet is here to stay, its part of the fabric of our life and its here to stay. The way we shop, the way we interact, the way we communicate, and it has permanently changed the way that we date.

Andrea Syrtash: That’s very true. So Ian what have you seen change in the world of online dating?

Ian Kerner: I think one of the big changes is the diversity and scope of people. So it’s a huge pool of people and you know there used to be a time when you would go online and you would say I am meeting the same guys and the same women over and over again. But I don’t think that’s happening any more.

And I think that’s the big change, that there is just so much diversity. And I think one of the great things about going online is you sort of get out of your type. Because you meet lots of new people. Let yourself be surprised, it’s a great way to sort of stretch your boundaries. Move to outside our type.

Andrea Syrtash: Right, try everything.

Ian Kerner: Try everything. I think that’s the big change that I have seen.

Andrea Syrtash: So what are some of your favorite success stories from the online dating world?

Ian Kerner: Well, you know I think my favorite success stories involve seniors. And people that are in their fifties and sixties. Because when you hear online dating you obviously think of people in their twenties or thirties, who are internet savvy and have cell phones and blackberries and are totally getting it. But I have found some many seniors. People in there sixties, seventies, eighties, who might have been a little internet shy, jump in there and their mastering it. So their coming out and their finding love online. So I always love when I hear those success stories.

The other thing I always love is you will go online, you will go on a date and you will meet someone, you like that person and you find out they live in your building. Or you know they were raised two doors down from you. So it really shows you that sometimes love, can be just across the street, just around the corner or even upstairs.
Andrea Syrtash: that’s really cool and I think that’s a really important thing to point out to people, you just don’t know even who is around.

Ian Kerner: Nope, and you know match.com and all of the online sites they allow you8 to broaden your reach, but also target and focus. So you know there is so many members, and there is so many people in your community, and you know I think it is just such a great alternative.

Benjamin Franklin said the definition of insanity I to do the same thing over and over again and expect a new result. And I think prior to online dating, that is what a lot of us would do. We would go to the same bars, the same parties. And I think online dating just really allows you to do new things in new ways.

Andrea Syrtash: And new members are popping up every day. So that’s a great point. So the advice. I know you said get over it. What else would you tell people who are unsure if they want to make the online dating leap?

Ian Kerner: You can go on and have complete confidentiality, complete anonymity, you can start to browse around and see who out there. You can read other peoples profiles, see how other people are presenting themselves. You can start to figure out, well this might be the kind of person that I like or don’t like. So I would say sort of take an opportunity to study the site a little bit. And watch and be an observer before you jump in. and I think the main thing is to just get your toes wet in the shallow end.

Andrea Syrtash: Ok Ian, what do you think the future of online dating is?

Ian Kerner: Well, I think the future of online dating is the future of the internet. Online video tutorials. Audio. I think that the future s going t be people are going to be able to blog, and really social network. And messaging each other. And I just think wherever the internet is going, that’s were dating and online dating is going to go.
And internationalization. I just think, you know we are going to see whatever country you are in, whatever language you speak, you are really going to be able to have internationalized, globalized experiences.

Andrea Syrtash: That’s so great global dating, what a great thing.

Here is what we learned from Dr. Ian Kerner:
1. Get over the stigma
2. Broaden your dating scope online
3. Try new thing in new ways
4. Be a observer first before you join a dating site

To find out more visit of course, match.com, or Ian Kerners personal website, Ian Kerner.com. And our website ONnetworks.com Thanks for watching on dating, and remember even a bad date makes a great story. So get out there and have some fun. I am Andrea Syrtash; I will see you next time.