How Do Couples Meet in the Internet Age? All About Online Love

Lateet December 27, 2018

Growing up, most of us dreamed of settling down with that perfect someone and having a fairy tale romance.

Unfortunately, that’s not always as easy as it would seem.

According to mathematician Rachel Riley, the odds of finding love on any given day is approximately one in 562. Those aren’t inspiring odds, to say the least.

But that isn’t to say finding love is a lost cause. Far from it, actually. Instead, it may be time to turn to a more modern solution: Online dating.

In fact, online dating is so popular and effective that it’s responsible for 1/3 of all marriages within the last several years.

You can learn more below as we examine how do couples meet in the age of the Internet.

Why Are People Using Online Dating?

If you’ve never used the Internet to find a date, hook-up, or long-term partner before, you’re likely wondering what all of the fuss is about.

Here are a few key reasons millions of people are turning to technology to help them find love.

It’s Laid Back

Most dates tend to be high-pressure situations. It can be hard to find the right thing to say or wear, or choose the right location to meet-up.

But online dating removes a ton of the pressure from finding your next partner.

Online dating is a lot like window shopping. Upon signing up for an app or website, you’re free to peruse users and message or flirt whenever you feel comfortable doing so.

Don’t see anyone that piques your interests? No harm, no foul! Move on to the next site with no pressure whatsoever.

It’s a fun, freeing way to date.

Algorithm-Driven Results Match Users Based on Personality

One of the best things about dating online is that you’ll never have to worry about having things in common.

Online dating sites use powerful, efficient algorithms to match you with people who fit your criteria and personality.

Tinder is a fantastic example. It uses users’ information to find matches users based on a number of criteria including:

Location
Mutual friends on Facebook
Shared interests

Before deciding if you’d like to match with someone, you can see what you already have in common. This alone takes some of the nerves out of dating.

You’ll never have to reach for topics of conversation on your first date!

Freedom of Choice

To further elaborate on the window shopping example from earlier, think of dating sites like a mall. You have tons of options to choose from, each offering their own unique specialty.

There are tons of great sites for general datings, such as eHarmony, Match.com, Zoosk, and more.

But there are also dozens of niche sites that match users based on criteria that you’d never imagine.

Want to find someone who likes their bacon crispy, too? Believe it or not, there’s a dating site for that called Sizzl.

Or you could be looking for a date in a similar tax bracket. Yep, there are even dating sites based on income level.

There are even dating sites for married people.

Suffice to say, if you have an interest, there’s a dating site for it.

Better Equality

Creating a dating profile can be a bit of a crapshoot for women. You may find someone you have a real interest in. But there’s an even greater chance some creep will harass you.

But certain dating sites are putting the power back in women’s hands. Apps like Bumble give women the opportunity to choose who they talk to and when.

In fact, guys can’t even send the first message.

Upon matching with a guy, women have 24 hours to send a message. If they don’t feel the need to reach out, that’s it.

It’s a refreshing move in an era where anonymity can go wrong in any number of ways.

Online Dating Statistics to Know

Online dating is fun and easy, that much is clear. But does it work, and if so, how?

If you’re skeptical, you’re not alone. Many people enter the online dating arena expecting nothing.

But these stats will show you that there’s more to online dating than you may think.

More Than Half of All People Think It’s a Good Use of Time

Online dating may have been a niche thing a few years ago, but times have changed. Now, most people agree that it’s a great option, erasing the pre-existing stigma surrounding online dating.

Pew Research found that 59% of people believe that online dating is an effective and worthwhile way to find a partner. Expect this number to climb as the popularity of online dating continues to increase.

The Numbers Are in Your Favor

One of the biggest reasons why people refrain from turning to the Internet is that they feel like it’s too niche.

On the contrary, however, there are an estimated 265.9 million people around the globe who use the internet for dating. This is a 5% increase from recent years.

It Isn’t Just for Young People

Maybe you’re reading this and thinking to yourself, “That’s all well and good, but I’m too old for online dating.”

On the contrary, there are plenty of reasons to sign up.

While the online dating world is dominated by younger people, that isn’t to say those looking for love in their later years won’t find what they’re looking for.

Within the last several years, the percentage of dating site users between the ages of 55 and 64 has doubled, in part due to the rise of social media.