People helping people find people.
The ability for technology to aid in the formation of communities is no new thing (”social media” anyone?). But those connections are generally angled at one of two things: 1. connecting - or reconnecting - you to people who you know in real life (a la Facebook, etc.). Or, 2. connecting you to people who share a common interest that you may never meet in real life (ie. Nike+, message boards, etc.). There’s still a bit of grey area when it comes to meeting new people via technology who you intend to spend time with in the non-digital world.
What am I talking about? Well, dating sites come to mind first. Yup, there’s a ton of them out there. And they’re even being used, often by millions of people. But how often do you hear friends talking about being on one? There’s still a bit of a stigma around online dating (for better or worse, you decide).
I’ve come across two sites recently that made me think further about this subject. The first deals directly with the world of online dating. As the name implies, Virtual Dating Assistants, LLC is a company that offers two options for men who are either too wealthy or too lazy to handle their own online dating ventures. For a measly $200/month (plus an $80 startup cost), they’ll manage up to 3 dating sites on your behalf, including hunting down potential “candidates” for your pursal. But if you really want the “007″ treatment, you’ll have to pony up $480/month for their Online Dating Management package (plus the cost of the dating sites they enroll you on). For that price, they’ll do everything up to, and including, arranging the date with your potential “candidate”. My only question is how much they’ll charge me to send someon else all together so that I don’t have to deal with the discomforts of that first date.
On a more positive note, however, I also came across By/Association, a new social experiment/service that’s starting up in NYC and SF (with plans to expand to London and LA). Members must apply to be accepted into the good graces of By/Association.
As a member you receive one monthly introduction to another remarkable person, based on complementary interests, goals, passions, and skills. With each introduction, your network grows — not for short-term gain, but for long-term value.
By/Association isn’t a dating site. It’s more an all-out networking/connections site. Membership is supposedly based on a stringent application process and costs $30/month if you’re selected. While far more low-key (not to mention cheaper) than Virtual Dating Assistants, something about makes it seem more impactful in my mind. It’s more about making a lasting (platonic) connection with someone who might truly interest you. That, to me, is an innovative use of the connectivity offered to us by today’s technology.
