Online dating is not a new concept to the social media generation.
In fact, DateMySchool, an online dating platform, was launched in 2010 solely for college students and alumni. Now, the site has more than 20,000 registered users.
According to “Dating Stats You Should Know: Numbers About Love That Make a Difference,” written by dating guru Meredith Broussard, approximately 40 million Americans use online dating services. About a dozen Youngstown State University students currently use DateMySchool.
YSU student Taylor Hill said she would try online dating sites just to meet new people.
“I don’t spend a lot of time on campus,” she said. “Computers are just really accessible.”
DateMySchool is free and, unlike Facebook, users don’t have to submit friend requests and can browse anyone from any school. To register for the site, students or alumni must use their registered school email address.
“Since you have to be a college student to join, you know the people are reliable and interested in other educated people,” said YSU student Joseph Intorre. “[DateMySchool] takes away the nervousness that goes along with approaching someone — without the awkwardness of being in a school setting.”
During an interview with CNN, Balazs Alexa and Jean Meyer, creators of the site, said DateMySchool is considerably different from Facebook.
“[Facebook] opened it up for everybody in the world, [and] we will never do that,” Alexa said.
The creators want the site to be more exclusive so students will feel safe while using it.
“You know you’re not going to be spammed or tagged by a friend in some weird shoe ad,” Hill said.