According to the dating industry, there are an estimated 5000 dating sites in Europe, including some 1500 in the UK alone. According to Monica Porter, a London-based journalist and writer, online dating is considered as mainstream as online shopping. Similarly, Brett Harding of Lovestruck (an award-winning dating site) said: “We have changed. We are no longer willing to put in the legwork in meeting someone. Online has become the acceptable de facto method.” In the latest addition to dating apps are the smart pendant, which gathers data from your social network, iTunes playlist and Netflix and will then vibrate when a compatible partner is within reach.
The focus of this week’s debate is on love apps and whether they are ruining the art of building relationships?
These are the statements to be debated:
■Love apps are making people lose the art of conversation.
■Love apps take away the possibility of meeting someone based on their personality, rather than their looks.
■Love apps take away the idea of romance.
■Extreme online shopping: love.
Participants will be required to clearly state whether they are ‘for’ or ‘against’ the statement and provide their supporting arguments for the same.
If you would like to participate, send us a request at readers@gulfnews.com
