When the internet first emerged in the late 80’s it came to us with immense promise: it spoke of bringing the best and brightest together for collaborative research. Of making information travel faster and reach wider than ever before. And most of all, of bringing us closer together than we had ever been since the dawn of time. And surely enough, it delivered.
When the World Wide Web was barely in its infancy, critics warned that it could fall into the wrong hands and cause mayhem and destruction. That it could give the uninformed and the malicious an equal platform with legitimate experts, sowing mistrust and misinformation. That it could make us more isolated and divided than we had ever been before. And surely enough, it delivered.
Today's onslaught of applications, social media and finally, AI have brought out the best and worst in humanity on an unprecedented scale. It is easy to blame ourselves for spending too much time online, for depending too much on software, for having such a great fear of missing out (with it's very own name, FOMO) that we don’t stop and wonder whether opening that new window is truly what we want and need in this point of our lives.
Perhaps we need to give ourselves a little pass, and some self-compassion, as we are in the throes of a civilisational growth spurt. Our ancestors have lived for millennia knowing only a handful of people, using largely the same tools for work and entertainment that they had been using for generations, and hardly ever leaving their home town.
We now have thousands of virtual “friends” and “followers”, all of whom have the capacity to upstage or judge us, but very few of whom are close enough to comfort and strengthen us. The neck-breaking speed with which information is thrown at us from every direction is not the kind of stimulation our attention span was built for. And every simple everyday activity that we used to do without a second thought now has an app for it. Like every stage of growth, this process is painful and awkward and can be downright dangerous if not taken slowly and with proper guidance.
To make it safely through, it is vital to take a minute to disconnect. Log off. Do a full shutdown and take some time to get back in touch with where the tech ends and we begin. And carefully take stock of which of the many sites and apps that demand our time, energy and attention actually give us something equally valuable in return. We can ask ourselves which ones make us feel positive and confident and which ones drain our mental health and frustrate us instead. We can also make a conscious effort to remember that we absolutely don’t have to use any kind of platform that doesn’t spark joy or offer us real benefits, regardless of what they bring into the lives of anyone else.
Do you remember the advent of online technology, when everything was simple and intuitive and served a useful purpose? When you knew exactly what pressing each button would do at a glance? Why should we settle for anything less than this, now that everything has evolved for increased usability and comfort? And why not use software that works for you instead of making you work to get the hang of it?
As the world’s largest online adoption reunion registry, we at Adopted.com are fully aware of the need to reach as many people as possible, while at the same time refining our platform to be as user-friendly as it can be. We have harvested the connecting power of technology to accrue a massive database of over 1 Million members, all searching for their birth families. A foundational value for us as we continue this endeavor is to make sure nobody is ever left behind because they aren’t able to comfortably navigate our platform, regardless of their age, background or levels of computer literacy. Here is how we commit to not adding to the prevalent technological torment, but instead to offering real value with minimal pressing and clicking:
1. Our interface is friendly and intuitive
The Adopted.com platform is designed with ease of use in mind. Its primary purpose is to make it as easy as possible for you to become reunited with your birth family. You cannot miss the “register” button, and you can immediately see updated information about the activity on our website - from daily member statistics to touching testimonials. One look at it and you will know exactly what to do. And should any problem arise, we offer free and timely support to any of our members who need it.
2. Our registration form is no frills, all substance
While many registration forms contain dry personal information and endless fields, ours focusses on the things that really matter most: 10 carefully thought-out questions that everyone knows about their unique situation. The answer options are generous, designed to help people who have little information about the biological relatives they seek. And you are free to leave a personal message at the end, where you can include anything else you might consider important. Our proprietary algorithm will cross-reference the data you have input against that of our over 1 Million members and let you know immediately if there is a match in our database at this time.
3. You don’t need to order, download or upload anything (unless you want to)
Most genealogy websites involve ordering a DNA testing kit, taking a test, mailing it back, downloading instructions, uploading results, or using software to create a family tree. This can be time-consuming and overwhelming. And there is a good chance that the person you are looking for has not gone through this entire process or is too many family 'branches' away to navigate the connection. Moreover, handing your DNA information to a corporation may be considered risky or invasive. While our platform offers you the possibility to upload genetic test data you already happen to have, this is by no means a requirement. You can easily use one of the other ways to search on Adopted.com, such as profile matching or the amazing Namesearch feature (which is a bit like Google, but for adoption information). This requires no mail ordering, downloading or reuploading, no use of complex software and offers instant results.
4. You can instantly see if you have any matches
Using a genealogy site to search for your birth family means bracing yourself with patience. First, you have to wait for your kit to arrive. After you mail it back in, you have to wait for your results. When you are eager to find the person you seek, any delay can be excruciating. When using Adopted.com, there are no waiting times. You simply input your information and hit the search button. If your biological relative is also registered to our platform, you will be instantly notified that you have found a match. And you may also match with family members you weren’t even aware existed, such as siblings, aunts/uncles or cousins who were already looking for you.
5. You can message your matches straight from our platform
What makes our global adoption reunion registry special is that it is 100% based on voluntary adoption records provided by our members. This means that if you have a match, the person you find was also actively looking for their birth family, so there is a much higher chance they will be happy to hear from you. We are one of the only search methods that doesn't involve a 'cold call' aspect. You also do not have to worry about obtaining a phone number and having to call a stranger with life-changing news. As soon as you have been matched, you can send them an instant private message straight from our platform. They will be immediately notified about it and will be able to respond in the same simple fashion. This way, your personal information remains private and you can decide what communication channel (if any) you are comfortable using with your biological relative once you have had the chance to get to know them a little. There is even the option to connect without sharing more, in case you don't want to take the experience further.
6. We notify you as soon as the one you seek signs up
There’s no need to give up hope if you can’t find your biological family immediately on Adopted.com. Often our members find their match months or even years after first registering. That is because as long as your profile remains active, our algorithm will be cross-referencing it against that of every new person who signs up - which just might be the one you are looking for. We get hundreds of new members every day, so your chances of finding your birth family is ever-increasing. Happily you don’t have to do anything during this time. There’s no need to sign in or keep searching every day, you can simply go on with your life and one day you may wake up to a notification that a match has been found. Then, you can return to the platform to follow up on the lead. This is a very common scenario, as is finding the person you seek within minutes, if they are already on the platform.
7. The support you need is only a click away
The matching algorithm and technological infrastructure is only one part of Adopted.com. We understand that there is much more to an adoption reunion journey than the search itself. Adoptees need compassionate human support and the comfort of shared experience during this challenging and emotionally charged time of their lives. They need an adoption village. That is why the Adopted.com community is only one click away. Our subscribers can access it comfortably from the top of the page and instantly come in contact with countless other people who share their journey. So if you feel like opening up to someone who understands first-hand what you are going through and who can give you hope and strength when you need it most, you can always find a friend here.
Here at Adopted.com, we harness the power of technology the way it was meant to be used: as a tool that helps connect people. We make the best of what the online world has to offer, while keeping the human element front and center. Our platform is carefully designed to work for you in a way that will never make you work to use it. While technology is the means, behind it are caring, compassionate people who dedicate their lives to helping you and many others become reunited with your birth family - and we are always only one click away.
