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Tomorrow (Tuesday) the senate in Florida will continue debate on the Identity Verification Legislation. IDEA OASIS urges any dating sites opposed to this legislation to attend and support the growing group of dating and online communities that are fighting to defeat this legislation. The more people we can push to attend and continue the debate, the better.
Tuesday, 2/26
11:45 to 2:45
Room 37 Senate Office Building
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida
CNN has an article about background checks, mentioning that True is the #5 online dating site. I just don’t see how that could be possible.
I’m still trying to get ahold of the public reports that True is referenceing. First person to email them to me gets a prize.
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I’ve provided testimony for this bill and have worked hard with the sponsors and True.com to get it passed.
I got involved with True.com when I was researching online dating sites for a chapter in my next book. After visiting several sites and sending out questions, I came upon True.com and saw something the other sites didn’t offer - criminal background checks of every member. I contacted True.com and asked why they offered the checks and in the course of conversation, they mentioned the online dating legislation. Since my organization helps adult victims of cyberstalking, this legislation was something I was very interested in. We do get cases that involved online dating situations gone wrong, usually when the woman breaks off the relationship with the man she has met on one of the dating sites. Then either she finds out he has a criminal background or he forges a profile in her name, with personal contact information (phone, home address, etc).
Disclosing whether or not a dating web site does these checks is common sense. This allows a person to decide whether they want to join the site or not. Some people aren’t as concerned about it, but those who are will at least have the knowledge and a choice. The dating web sites that *do* the background checks mean it is less likely a victim will come to us for help.
I applaude what you are doing for cyberstalking victims and I’m all for common sense and safety when it comes to online dating. I just don’t think a disclaimer on a home page addresses the need to identify and deter individuals bent on causing harm using the net as a means of meeting victems.
Background checks are important and I think Trufina and Verified Person offer valuable services. BTW your statement that no dating sites require background checks is incorrect. Friendfinder has been offering them for years and Great Expectations has as well.
The dating industry has been unable to articulate a cohesive message in the press, which bothers me to no end. Rich Gosse blew a perfect opportunity to address the issue with H. Vest on Fox and IDEAS OASIS need to learn about staying on message.
Dating sites need to focus on better customer service and increasing conversion rates. Without improvements in these areas, there will be no industry to legislate.
Many online dating / social networking sites are offering a free-service / free-membership but
if
a person DOES NOT pay or DOES NOT want to pay for the service it clearly MEANS
He or She are NOT INTERESTED in serious dating / networking.
A client MUST HAVE only one reason to pay a fee: this fee will work
- as a barrier to avoid free users, who could hurt other clients’ feelings.
- as a barrier to avoid multiple / several profiles posted by the same person.
- as a barrier to avoid a fake profile invented by a felon / convict / other.
Online dating / social networking USERS will metamorphose to CLIENTS only if the service has enough quality (as actual Offline Chains, that instead of disappearing, have good health).
Kindest Regards,
Fernando Ardenghi.
Buenos Aires.
Argentina.
ardenghifer@gmail.com
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