3.11.2010

Weopia: Emerging Online Dating Site

    Less than a month ago, Weopia was opened for participation to the public. Weopia is an experiential virtual environment where those seeking "true love" can avoid high cost, wasted time, and stress. Layman's Terms? Weopia is the "newest thing" in online dating sites, allowing users to actually go on virtual dates, like para-gliding over the ocean, or take moonlight walks on the beach. (Activities all dating partners do, I'm sure =] )
    How Weopia Works:
1. Users find potential partners on any online dating sites.
2. Users invite prospective dates to their personal Weopia space.
3. Users get to know their dating partner via romantic activities such as sunset boat rides and kissing on the beach and conversations in real time.
4. Users decide if they’d like to meet the person in real life, or pursue another person.

    Weopia allows the individual to have a virtual experience with their prospective date. It's harder for people to create a fake "face" if they are interacting via voice chat and interactive activities with their dating partners. Therefore, if the users do decide to meet face to face, they should know more truth about the person than the average Computer Mediated Communication relationship.
    Weopia has been said to be the place where individuals get a deeper sense of their compatibility with potential partners.
    According to our lecture, 75% of internet users have done at least one dating related activity online. Plus, there are 10 millino single Americans who are looking for partners.
    Weopia is important because the success rate of online dating increases with use of this emerging technology. In fact, researchers at Harvard and MIT say that Weopia works faster than typical online dating and dating is twice as successful with use of Weopia.
    After researching this emerging technology for class, I realized I would not feel comfortable using it. I feel as though many of the visuals it provides are inappropriate. I tend to use the internet to communicate with people I already know, and who I'd rather do those activities with in person verses over the computer. However, those who have a long distance relationship or those who use the internet to meet people could utilize the new technology.

Go to Weopia.com to check it out.
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3 comments:

  1. Dave WilkieMarch 12, 2010 at 11:09 AM

    Hi Sarah,

    Wonderful post. I'm wondering what visuals you found inappropriate. We are currently changing Weopia to include quizzes, games and definitely don't want to scare people away with inappropriate visuals. Please let me know.

    Thanks.

    Dave, CEO Weopia

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  2. SarahMarch 16, 2010 at 11:54 AM

    Dave,
    Thanks for the message!
    I looked to gizmag for a lot of the information I found about Weopia, and then went from there to Weopia.com. I felt as though gizmag and other reviewers displayed images of the virtual characters laying on the beach or kissing, with revealing clothes. Those sources led me to believe the site was encouraging more of a sexual relationship vs. an interactive, get-to-know one another via the computer sort of relationship.
    I don't think the visuals would scare anyone away. I just know that when I first read about Weopia and saw some pictures, I thought to myself, "Why would I pretend to kiss someone virtually?" I felt as though it was a weird concept.

    Hope this helps!

    Please let me know if you have any other questions about my post or what I thought of Weopia!

    Sarah

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  3. DaveApril 22, 2010 at 9:02 PM

    Hi Sarah,

    Thanks for your reply and your comments on the imagery. I have heard similar comments about the bikini. We thought the kiss might be a late step in the process of getting to the stage of feeling good about the relationship and taking it offline.

    I am happy that you have pointed out that we can be perceived mistakenly as encouraging sexual relationships. I will certainly keep that in mind.

    Dave

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