“I met my husband on Orkut” – A growing trend?

One of the great things about internet is the people around you who are users of the medium give you deeper insights into the trends on almost a daily basis. So just last week a fellow WATblogger was telling me of how his cousin met her to be husband on orkut!.. Hmmm.. interesting isn’t it? Was this a one off incident or was it a growing trend?

Are social networks slowly but surely sabotaging the matrimonial territory?

Will Matrimonial sites be dead in the near future in the face of free networking sites?

Or will it continue for only those who look for a secured/private platform? But social networks have privacy options too..

An article in agencyfaqs supports the fact that youth are making a beeline to be a part of social networks /dating/friendship sites rather than matrimonial sites. One might argue that the two can’t be compared as social networks look at connecting people for friendship and dating while marraige is a totally different issue!

But can’t a platform like social networks which the youth have embraced grow into a platform for searching eligible mates?? I mean after all a network like orkut/facbook/fropper doesnt give you any agenda as what you do on the site. Its a communication platform which could be used right from fighting with your freinds to making new ones to doing business discussion to ofcourse searching the right partner.

JuxtConsult Director states that with 60 per cent of the online user population below the age of 25, “dating and friendship is bound to attract more users than matrimonial services,” Fair Point I say.. But then the question arises when these youngsters who are social media savvy grow up and look for a new platform? Would they search for grooms on a matrimonial site when they can get to know a person his hobbies his friend circle and what he speaks to his friends just by visiting his profile on orkut or other social networks..

Currently one sees an overlap with almost 72 per cent of the people who are into dating and friendship online are also registered with matrimonial search sites but would we see the same trend say 5 years later?

These are questions that matrimonial site owners need to ponder as whether or not their approach to online matrimony needs to change given the change in mindset of the young india coupled with the change in internet ecosystem.