Company:VIDA Select

From HandWiki
VIDA Select
IndustryOnline dating, matchmaking
FoundedJune 2009
HeadquartersAtlanta, Georgia
Key people
Scott Valdez (CEO)

VIDA Select is an online dating platform which provides matchmaking services.[1][2][3][4] VIDA Select was created in June 2009, previously known as Virtual Dating Assistants.[5][6][7][8][9] It was founded by Scott Valdez in Atlanta, Georgia.[10][11][12][13] The application uses virtual assistants to manage its members’ dating profiles.[14][15][16][17][18]

VIDA creates and manages user profiles on behalf of its customers.[19][20][21][22][23][24] Virtual assistants assigned to each member interact on behalf of these users and perform different activities including chatting with potential matches and setting up dates for a user.[25][26][27][28]

VIDA has been the subject of criticism because of the way it operates with some calling using such a service as a misrepresentation in dating.[29] The company itself advises its customers to not disclose to any potential matches that they used VIDA's services.[30][31][32]

The online platform originally had a lot of male members but later on women started joining the platform as well.[33][34] In 2018, approximately a third of VIDA members were women.[35]

References

  1. "VirtualDatingAssistants.com Lets You Outsource Your Online Dating Life" (in en-US). https://social.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/virtualdatingassistantscom-lets-you-outsource-your-online-dating-life/. 
  2. "I Employed a Team of 'Virtual Dating Assistants' to Manage My Online Love Life" (in en). https://www.vice.com/en/article/vdpnzx/i-employed-a-team-of-virtual-dating-assistants-to-manage-my-online-love-life. 
  3. Barker, Olivia. "A concierge can take the guesswork out of social media" (in en-US). https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2014/04/08/new-trend-alert-the-personal-social-media-concierge-dating-weddings/7116217/. 
  4. Wheatley, Thomas (2021-02-10). "Frustrated with online dating, Scott Valdez decided to leave flirting to an expert. Now, it's his business." (in en-US). https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/frustrated-with-online-dating-scott-valdez-decided-to-leave-flirting-to-an-expert-now-its-his-business/. 
  5. Jacobs, Emma (2011-11-10). "The love letter ghostwriter". Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/0db2774a-0a00-11e1-8d46-00144feabdc0. 
  6. Blodget, Katharine. "Why You Shouldn't Smile In Your Match.com Profile, And Other Online Dating Tips For Execs" (in en-US). https://www.businessinsider.com/data-driven-online-dating-tips-for-execs-2011-4. 
  7. "No time to date online? Outsource it" (in en). https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna36926587. 
  8. "You could be flirting on dating apps with paid impersonators" (in en-US). https://finance.yahoo.com/news/could-flirting-dating-apps-paid-123638341.html. 
  9. Brooks, Lou; Mazzucchi, Steve (2010-11-16). "The Algorithm Method" (in en-US). https://www.menshealth.com/technology-gear/a19525958/algorithm-method/. 
  10. Vendeville, Geoffrey (2016-01-28). "Woman, 30, hires dating profile manager from Craigslist to help her find romance" (in en-CA). The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/01/28/woman-30-hires-dating-profile-manager-from-craigslist-to-help-her-find-romance.html. 
  11. Claire, Marie (2010-06-07). "Internet dating banter is now being outsourced" (in en). https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/internet-dating-banter-is-now-being-outsourced-174982. 
  12. Brooks, Lou; Mazzucchi, Steve (2010-11-16). "The Algorithm Method" (in en-US). https://www.menshealth.com/technology-gear/a19525958/algorithm-method/. 
  13. O'Brien, Sara Ashley (2015-02-09). "Money can buy you love -- or at least make you dateable". https://money.cnn.com/2015/02/09/technology/online-dating-coaches/index.html. 
  14. Senior, By Savvy. "Looking for Love and Companionship Online" (in en-US). https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2013/03/27/looking-for-love-and-companionship-online/62908716007/. 
  15. "ViDA Dating Review: Everything You Need to Know" (in en-US). 2020-01-24. https://www.datezie.com/vida-dating-review/. 
  16. Press, LEANNE ITALIE Associated. "Seniors looking to spark romance online may have special requirements" (in en-US). https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/local/2011/08/28/seniors-looking-to-spark-romance-online-may-have-special-requirements/32144685007/. 
  17. "Virtual Dating Assistants Work Full-Time to Find You a Date" (in en). 2010-05-20. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/online-dating-virtual-dat_b_579971. 
  18. "New Virtual Dating App Helps You Become Best Self, Flirts For You On Apps | The Bobby Bones Show" (in en). https://bobbybones.iheart.com/featured/bobby-bones/content/2019-08-06-what-25-yr-olds-care-about-new-dating-app-helps-you-flirt-on-apps/. 
  19. "Would you pay someone to get a Tinder date?" (in en-GB). 2018-11-13. https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/vida-select-dating-apps. 
  20. Kranc, Lauren (2020-12-11). "'When the Dow Is Down, Love Is Up': Modern Matchmaking Is Booming" (in en-US). https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/sex/a34931203/matchmaking-dating-services-online-apps/. 
  21. "This Dating Service Will Flirt for You, But It Will Cost You" (in en). https://www.vice.com/en/article/9ke9kd/this-dating-service-will-flirt-for-you-but-it-will-cost-you. 
  22. Breindel, Alexander (2018-04-27). "Impersonators On Tinder Are Just The Symptoms of a Cynical, Broken System" (in en-US). http://resourcemagonline.com/2018/04/impersonators-on-tinder-are-just-the-symptoms-of-a-cynical-broken-system/89285/. 
  23. "Too Busy To Date Online? Now You Can Outsource It!" (in en-US). 2010-05-12. https://www.glamour.com/story/too-busy-to-date-online-now-yo. 
  24. "The Secret Lives of Virtual Dating Assistants: Required Reading for Dating App Users - Love Leaf Coaching | Relationship & Friendship Coaching" (in en). http://loveleafcoaching.com/blog/secret-lives-virtual-dating-assistants-required-reading-dating-app-users/. 
  25. CNBC.com, Chris Morris, Special to (2012-08-10). "'I Want to Draw a Cat for You' and Other Start-up Successes" (in en). https://www.cnbc.com/2012/08/10/i-want-to-draw-a-cat-for-you-and-other-startup-successes.html. 
  26. "The cyber Cyrano" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2010-07-08. https://www.bbc.com/news/10552437. 
  27. WPVI (2019-08-07). "ViDA dating service offers to 'flirt for you'" (in en). https://6abc.com/vida-dating-service-app-apps/5450345/. 
  28. "Entrepreneur Seeks "Virtual Dating Assistants" For Busy Online Daters" (in en-us). 2011-04-05. https://jezebel.com/entrepreneur-seeks-virtual-dating-assistants-for-busy-5789155. 
  29. Voets, Cedric (2018-04-30). "There's A Service That Tricks People Into Online Dating You" (in en). https://www.cracked.com/article_25569_theres-service-that-tricks-people-into-online-dating-you.html. 
  30. "'Virtual dating assistants' will impersonate you on Tinder to get you laid" (in en). 2018-05-25. https://therooster.com/blog/virtual-dating-assistants-will-impersonate-you-on-dating-apps-to-get-you-laid. 
  31. Breindel, Alexander (2018-04-27). "Impersonators On Tinder Are Just The Symptoms of a Cynical, Broken System" (in en-US). http://resourcemagonline.com/2018/04/impersonators-on-tinder-are-just-the-symptoms-of-a-cynical-broken-system/89285/. 
  32. Stuart-Ulin, Chloe Rose. "You could be flirting on dating apps with paid impersonators" (in en). https://qz.com/1247382/online-dating-is-so-awful-that-people-are-paying-virtual-dating-assistants-to-impersonate-them/. 
  33. "Internet Dating Video News Summaries". https://internetdating.typepad.com/internetdatingnews/. 
  34. Zetlin, Minda (2019-11-22). "Dating Assistants Impersonate Men on Dating Sites and It's Working" (in en). https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/dating-assistants-online-dating-imposters-vida-select-dating-sites-dating-apps.html. 
  35. "Singles paying people to impersonate them online to score dates | Globalnews.ca" (in en-US). https://globalnews.ca/news/2483224/dating-manager-for-hire-the-business-of-delegating-your-online-love-life/.