'Stop watch' dating site gives singles one option daily

Coffee Meets Bagel only lets users view one potential mate at a time. (coffeemeetsbagel.com)


Some internet dating sites hinge on the philosophy that there are plenty of fish in the sea.

Singles cast a wide net, haul in a ton of options, and sort through them all to find the right catch.

That method may be fun for some, but one dating site argues that the paradox of choice leaves too many people reeling.

Coffee Meets Bagel curates one option, or "bagel," for users per day. Then it forces them to decide whether to say "yes" or "pass" in a 24-hour window.

The potential mates are only visible to one another within that timeframe, and if the feelings are mutual they can go on a date.

Singles see pictures and some profile information - just enough to pique interest - and the rest of the courting must happen in person.

This puts the focus on quality, not quantity, said Arum Kang, co-founder of Coffee Meets Bagel, adding that there's something "serendipitous and powerful" to the arrangement.

"If you are matched with Ed, let's say, you see his profile for 24 hours while Ed sees your profile for 24 hours," she told the popular Mashable website.

"After the 24th hour, the match disappears and you might never connect with this person again!"

(So if we return to fishing metaphors, be careful which catch you toss back into the sea.)

"Online dating space gets a bad reputation -- and rightfully so -- because products out there are time-consuming, blatantly public, and expensive," Arum said.

Right now the free dating site is only available in New York City and Boston, but the idea got us thinking about past debates within the CBC Community.

Online dating has become the second most common way for couples to meet, and the phenomenon has grown rapidly in popularity and social acceptance.

In February, we collected 7 success stories and 7 horror stories about online dating from the CBC community, then we asked readers to tell us what they think of the modern matchmaking sites.

As if keeping with the symmetry, the results were nearly perfectly split. Of the roughly 1,500 people polled, 27 per cent said, "They're a-ok!" while 28 per cent said, "I'd stay away."

The most popular answer, however, was right in between - 45 per cent said, "It could go either way." Much of the response was similarly measured.

• "Dating sites are fine, as long as you know how to use them. I was online for 2 years before I met my girlfriend. Sure, not everyone you meet online is a keeper, but neither is everyone you meet in 'real life' either. You just need to use some common sense." - quardlepleen
• "How do most people meet? By chance? Of course! It doesn't matter the circumstances surrounding how you met, two people's suitability is what will determine if it works out for them. Of course there will be nightmare stories just as there are among those who meet via other methods." - MCRB1969
  
  

What do you think of online dating? If you do it, which website do you use? Do you pay for the service? What are the pros and cons?

Whether or not you like the digital approach, do you have thoughts on the best way to meet potential mates?

(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' replies.)

Related Community Blog Posts:

• Is this 'dating spreadsheet' creepy?
• Online dater sends out awkward post-date survey
• Should dating websites do criminal checks on their clients?
• Would you lie in an online dating profile?
  
• Would you use a cellphone app to find a date?
• Should pheromone parties be held in Canada?