Craigslist was one of the most well-known and popular sites on the internet not too long ago. Many Gen Xers still remember those days scrolling through Craigslist’s mysterious archives, looking for furniture pieces second-hand or learning about sweet connections that were missed.
The Personals section was once the most important feature of the site. Here men looking for women or men seeking men will find the love of their life.
Craigslist Personals’ closure also marked the end of an era. What makes Craigslist Personals so different from other online dating websites? Let’s pay homage to the internet’s past glory days by taking a walk down memory lane to learn more about Craigslist Personals.
What is Craigslist?
Craigslist allows you to view and post classified ads. These can include job postings as well as items for sale, real property, gigs, services, and local events. The site is very similar to the classified ads section of newspapers. People can quickly and easily find the ads they are interested in by using Craigslist. Craigslist works in the same way as other sites like Doublelist, Gumtree and Locanto.
The site was one of the first sites to offer classified ads. It was established in the mid-90s. The site attracted millions of users each month, and earned millions in annual revenue.
Craigslist was so popular that it became a common part of American culture and the internet. Many TV series, movies, and video games have featured Craigslist, including Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Grand Theft Auto IV and New Girl.
Craigslist, although a US-based website, has managed to reach more than 70 countries. There are subsites that cater to specific cities in Australia, such as Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
What is Craigslist Personals exactly?
One of the most popular sections on Craigslist was the Personals section. This section allowed you to search for personal ads from people looking for friendship, casual sex, or dates.
This event was very popular and highly sought after by the LGBTQ+ community. This was one of the few places where gay and lesbian people could make connections, especially in conservative countries.
Craigslist was the first to do all these things in an era where there were many stigmas associated online dating and casual hookups. Craigslist is the platform to thank if you are one of those people who loves to swipe on Tinder, or you frequently slip into someone’s Grindr DMs.
Craigslist Personals Shutdown:
Craigslist Personals has been officially closed in 2018. This sad news is for many love-sick and thirsty adults around the world. However, the other sections of Craigslist are still up and running. SESTA/FOSTA were laws passed in the US in order to stop sex trafficking. The Personals section was removed.
According to the law, the government can impose civil and criminal liability on any website that provides a platform for sex trading and prostitution. Craigslist used to have an adult services section that allowed erotic massage therapists, and escorts as well as other types of sex workers to advertise their services. This section was closed in 2010, and all its activities have been moved to the personals section.
Craigslist decided to discontinue the personals section after FOSTA was passed. This is to make sure that other sections of the website don’t go down. It is worth noting that the community of sex workers was very vocal in their opposition to this decision. They claim that closing down Craigslist has deprived them of the opportunity to screen potential clients, find work and perform sex-related jobs safely and securely.
Instead of searching online for clients from the comfort of their own homes, most sex workers had to travel to places that could expose them to greater risks and dangers. The rest of the sites similar to Craigslist that still exist only exploit the desperate nature of these sex workers and charge them enormous amounts for their ads. This was a far cry from the cheap Craigslist services in the past.
Online dating sites are different
Even though Craigslist Personals is long gone, there are many online dating sites you can still use. It is easy to spot the difference between these websites from Craigslist’s Personals section.
Online dating sites, unlike Personals which seemed to be primarily focused on casual hookups or sexual encounters with other people, are more interested in helping members find new friends, potential partners, and even life partners.
Online dating sites are not just for hookups and encounters. These platforms are designed to make members’ online dating experience enjoyable. It is not just about sex. There is more to dating than a physical connection.
It doesn’t matter what you do, but it does matter to find the one person with whom you can have a deeper connection beyond skin contact.
You can have a safe, fun, and memorable dating experience with the best online dating sites.