I’ve heard a few commercials lately from Match.com regarding their online dating service but more specifically, I noticed a claim that 1 in 5 relationships started online. I’m not too sure I believe this and I definitely don’t like the sound of it either.

Now what’s my problem? Well as any marketer at Match.com who’s worth their weight in gold knows, sure, 1 in 5 relationships could have been sparked online but how many of those relationships were created on Match.com and most importantly, how many of those relationships started on paid or free dating sites?

Here’s a list of online social websites where people could have met and started dating from:

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Linkedin
4. Youtube
5. MySpace
6. many many more

I’d even venture to suggest that Facebook would hold the record for the most intimate relationships created for a few simple reasons. With Facebook you practically know the person you’re speaking with because chances are they know one of your friends. Also with Facebook, your friends can vouch for the person they’re getting to know - something that cannot really be done on regular dating sites not to mention the very high rate of unsuccessful relationships that are built and eventually fall apart from dating sites.

False advertising on Match.com’s part? Maybe not, their claim is sort of true but it doesn’t mean joining a dating site is going to help you be a part of the numbers. Plus look around you, is it true that out of every ten friends you have 2 of them met on a dating site?

Let me know what you think!

Original Article