Here’s looking for you, kid
Room for everyone?
With both websites and now mobile devices is there enough room for everyone to still prosper? The answer seems to be a resounding yes.
While traditional sites don’t seem to be seeing much of an impact from their mobile counterparts, the mobile applications are having huge growth. BoyAhoy has over 100,000 users while GRINDR has over 250,000 users -- 60,000 who use daily. Both applications are being used overseas.
Lahoti, who’s website FindFred is going to be launching a mobile version in the near future, sees that everyone can play together just like how bars in a gayborhood are able to co-exist.
"Guys like to have five bars to bar hop. [So] four to five players can do well," Lahoti predicts.
But with increased competition, it also means that each of the companies is going to have to step up their game. GRINDR’s Simkhai and FindFred’s Lahoti both made a point to note that they are gay owned and operated. With GRINDR, the gay community was their top priority.
"We are proud to serve the community and focus on the gay community first," said Simkhai, who proudly says that GRINDR was not an offshoot of a straight counterpart or and afterthought. He does admit that while they will keep GRINDR "as a guys seeking guys community" a straight counterpart might get spun off in the future.
Both of the services have an option donation that members can make. GRINDR has the upgraded GRINDR X, which allows twice as many search results for $2.99 a month, while FindFred has a $5.00 premium membership. From that money, 10 percent of the money gets donated back to charities within the gay community.
"The web hasn’t been held to the same standards as brick and mortar companies," Lahoti said about charity giving. "It’s so nebulous so people don’t ask."
Taking the Next Step
With the Internet so ingrained into our culture and lives, it’s hard to separate the virtual and physical lives that we are leading.
"Our online life and physical life is 50/50. If you meet someone in a bar, the first thing you do is look at their Facebook page," Lahoti said.
It’s because of this integration that more and more people are feeling comfortable meeting people online and making the move to meeting in person. But while it’s easier to check the validity of someone’s identity nowadays, it’s still best to take precautions when first meeting someone.
"Nothing can happen to you online. If you have any brains you meet them in the afternoon in a public place and have a cup of coffee," explains Dr. Fisher. "It’s safer than going into a bar drunk and going home with someone."
But before being able to take the step from talking to someone on your phone or computer, it’s best to do a gut check on yourself to see if you are ready for a relationship.
"It’s important to be honest with yourself," Coopersmith said. "If you’re not ready, you’re going to fuck it up anyway."
The continuing growth of technology will no doubt mean even more developments for the dating scene. But even as we go even more high tech, Fisher doesn’t see there being an end to the bar scene.
"We will always have the waterhole -- the bar. We are an animal that meets face to face," Fisher said.
