Online dating is fast becoming the best way for singles to meet and date. Online dating services generally allow people to provide personal information then search for other individuals using criteria such as age range, gender and location. Most sites allow members to upload photos and browse the photos of others. The goal of online dating sites is to help people establish meaningful relationships in their personal lives. Sites may offer additional services, including webcasts, online chat dating and message boards. Sites typically allow people to register for free but may offer services which require a monthly fee. Many sites are broad-based, with members from a variety of backgrounds looking for different types of relationships. Other sites are more specific, based on the type of members, interests, location, or relationship desired. U.S. residents spent $469.5 million on online dating and personals in 2004, the largest segment of paid content on the web, according to a study conducted by the Online Publishers Association (OPA) and comScore Networks.
Online chat dating is one of the features of online dating. Online chat dating refers to what is now mostly known as...