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Online dating 101

By Stuart Lowman, ITWeb junior journalist
Johannesburg, 11 Feb 2005

Online education company Netucation has launched DatingGuideSA.com, claimed to be SA`s first guide to online dating.

"There is nothing more frightening than stepping into the uncharted waters of online dating for the first time," says Netucation MD Ramon Thomas. "We aim to curb these fears with a guide to the online dating scene in SA."

The site covers those using Internet, speed or SMS dating, says Thomas.

The Web site is a combination of online dating reviews and a discussion forum. "The forum allows users to comment on their online dating experiences or on the companies that offer these services."

There may be gripes with a certain company`s services, and the forum allows users to express these complaints, he says. "We can then take them up on the users` behalf. There is a need for a neutral commentator that can watch the industry."

Thomas, who conducted SA`s first national survey on the topic in 2004, will also publish his survey findings on the new site.

Netucation research shows there are around 250 000 people using online dating services in SA.

"Online dating allows people to get to know each other before investing a lot of time and energy," says Thomas.

"The average person who uses this service is aged between 24 and 33, has a tertiary qualification and earns over R10 000 per month."

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