RENTON, Wash., June 11, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Did the prom queen gain weight or the computer geek end up having the last laugh? Or are you more interested in the successes and struggles of the people who were part of your life all those years ago? According to a whopping nine out of ten (90%) of respondents in the 2008 Reunion Poll from Classmates.com, talking about money, status and physical appearance isn't as important as connecting -- and staying in touch -- with friends they haven't seen in years.
"In January through May of 2008, Classmates.com members used our new Reunion Center to organize 300% more in-person events than the same period in 2007," said Greg Ott, senior vice president of marketing at Classmates.com. "As one of the most visited social networks and the No. 1 site for planning reunions, we're pleased that Classmates.com is helping members plan three times as many in-person get-togethers with friends than they did last year."
Classmates.com 2008 Reunion Poll key findings from respondents also include:
* 93% want to hear from school friends
* 80% would like to connect with a friend
* 78% desire to connect with a group of friends
* 74% would do things differently including being more social,
more active and less shy if they could go back and do high
school over again
* 52% hope to see their teacher
* 38% say that they will not fib about their personal life
including family, marriages, kids or divorce
* 34% will flip through old yearbooks before attending the
reunion
* 29% are going to buy a new outfit in preparation for the
reunion
* 18% plan to diet before the reunion
* 14% might consider lying about their personal life including
family, marriages, kids or divorce
Many poll respondents report that instead of preparing for a reunion by dieting, getting a nip/tuck or coming up with a few fibs to make them sound better, they are actually flipping through yearbooks and making mental notes about which friends they most want to get back in touch with.
"In this Internet age where someone can boast a list of 'thousands of friends' that they've never even heard of, people are looking for real-life connections," states relationship expert Dennie Hughes. "We all have that person we regret losing touch with, whose friendship impacted our lives in some way, that someone we still have a comfortable bond with that we can incorporate into our present lives, and stay in touch with on a regular basis. Resources like the Classmates.com Reunion Center make it easier than ever to get together and stay connected with people we care about from throughout our lives," she says.
High School Reunions Remain Popular
About eight million people are expected to attend high school reunions in the United States this year. More than 90% of reunion planners are volunteers, the unsung heroes who make their class reunions possible.
About Classmates Media Corporation, Inc.
Classmates Media Corporation (CMC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Online, Inc. (Nasdaq:UNTD), operates leading online social networking and loyalty marketing services under the Classmates (www.classmates.com) and MyPoints (www.mypoints.com) brands. Classmates.com connects millions of members throughout the U.S. and Canada with friends and acquaintances from school, work and the military. CMC also operates leading social networking sites in Germany (www.stayfriends.de), Austria (www.stayfriends.at), Sweden (www.stayfriends.se) and France (www.trombi.com). For more information about United Online please visit www.unitedonline.com.
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NOTE: Real-life love reconnection and reunion stories are available for media upon request.