eHarmony and the Internet: Matched August 2000

So we've all seen the commercials - people finding love via the Internet. And if it wasn't for the Internet, they'd be hopeless... right?

Recently, there has been an emergence in online dating. Many sites for dating via the Internet claim to be easy and safe - matching you with only those most compatible to you. It really makes you wonder.. what DID people do before the Internet? I know that my friends and I tend to make plans either over Facebook or text messaging. So, if all technology was to be lost for a day, what would we do? It seems to me we would be all alone.

Our activities online are what keep us going. Be it applying for jobs, communicating with coworkers, doing schoolwork (exhibit A...), coordinating with friends, booking transportation, checking the weather, ordering clothes, or finding our soulmate. eHarmony.com (or .ca for us Canadians) was a site created in August of 2000, and has since then had over 20 million members, with approximately 236 eHarmony members getting married every single day. I don't know about you, but I found this information shocking! With all the jokes surrounding online dating, I didn't know it could actually be such an effective matchmaker.

But all jokes aside, I think online dating, when taken seriously, can be a wonderful thing. With such a busy world that truly is (as i tried to illustrate in the examples above) connected at the hip to the Internet, what a better way to meet a potential partner. The technologies of matching personalities seem to work wonders, and I'm sure all the eHarmony love-birds would tell us so.

So what do you think? Would you ever create an online dating profile? Would you give love a chance to blossom via the Internet?

Somebody's Watching Me

Citizen media like blogs, Twitter and Facebook have mainly been my niche as gossipgirlt. It's exciting and empowering to have the ability to utilize your own voice in the public sphere and to have it heard.

However, it has been brought to my attention that not everyone is as fortunate when it comes to having a voice. Just a little over a year ago, bloggers in Iran were jailed for voicing opinions against the "norm." SmartMobs explains how Twitter is one of the only ways to receive updates on the strife in Iran as texting and cell phone coverage has been suspended there. Even with these "luxuries" taken away, the ability to speak on current events that may not be so popular are being monitored.

It's sad to think someone can be persecuted for standing up for their rights or offering input on an unpopular topic. Looks like George Orwell wasn't too far off on his radical ideas regarding "Big Brother." To always feel like you are being watched, to be scrutinized for your every thought is a terrible way to live. There is something to be said, if not for freedom in your own country, then for freedom of self. Every human being has the right to an opinion, and the right to voice it. Blogs are a tool to do just that, and it is an oxymoron to see that they are being used as just the opposite.

Are you LinkedIn?

As graduation quickly approaches, a lot of students are wondering what the next step is. Hand out resumes? Go to a job fair? Perhaps... if you're Ward and June Cleaver. The new generation of job applicants have some other options to consider.

While attending a resume writing workshop, it was brought to my attention that what potential employers (in some fields more than others) are really looking for is an online presence. Samples of resumes we were given that were unlike the resumes I was used to making. Down the side of one was a large box with the applicants Twitter address - it was the focus of the entire page. And just a few slots over was the LinkedIn account. It then dawned on me that simply writing up your qualifications and education is no longer enough.

In order to create a lasting impression and land the job, there's a lot more work involved than I would have imagined. As I was instructed in the workshop, it is important to start your online presence NOW, so when your potential employers search for you they will see you are already involved in your career aspirations. They will see this because you should be tweeting regularly about things that interest you and show your dedication to your field of choice.

For example, I am hoping to become an event planner. Now, I have a Twitter account but have never actually tweeted. In order to ramp up my image, I should research up and coming events and maybe even offer a critique of them on my Twitter account... and fast.

LinkedIn is another expectation for job applicants, especially for those in the business world. This professional networking site allows you to create a profile and connect with past and present colleagues, classmates, etc. These people may then add a recommendation to your profile, giving "power to your career."

It is my feeling that expectations for an online presence may be either helpful or harmful to one's career. If you're into networking like tweeting and LinkedIn already, then it would be easy to promote yourself online. However, for those who would rather hand in a resume and excel in an interview, this new level of expectations may be a bit intimidating. I know it is for me.