Finding Your Valentine Online: Digital Dating Pros, Cons

Having tried it only once for about 6 months, (eHarmony) I discovered it just wasn't for me. But then again, I've also discovered that I'm not the kind of person who's meant to be in a relationship with anyone other than my furry kids. Honestly, I'm just too selfish. But if you're actively looking, or just pondering dipping your toe into the digital dating pool here is some food for thought.

According to Statistics from the Pew Research Center:

• 1 in 10 Americans are looking for love online
• 23% have had success either meeting a spouse or a long-term partner through dating sites

In other news- -an article in Vanity Fair started a firestorm by calling the rise of mobile dating apps the “Dating Apocalypse". One study indicated that nearly 100 million people are:

using their phones as a sort of all-day, every-day, handheld singles club, where they might find a sex partner as easily as they’d find a cheap flight to Florida. “It’s like ordering Seamless,” says Dan, the investment banker, referring to the online food-delivery service. “But you’re ordering a person.”

 

Christian Rudder, a Harvard-trained mathematician and founder of dating site OK Cupid discussed some of the questions their potential daters are asked and what secrets their responses reveal. For instance, the question- - “Do you like beer?” is a major predictor of someone who is willing to have sex on the first date. The question, “Do you like scary movies?” and the answer to it, either positive or negative, can be an indicator of whether the love will last, as long as the couple agrees one way or another. Rudder says to put all your effort into your picture because that is still what people react to first.

Online dating expert Julie Spira says that even with all the options available to single people significant numbers of them still find it difficult to connect. She says that although the options for digital dating are myriad, she still suggests “casting a wide net”, meaning you need to be open to all experiences on and off-line.

She also offers several pros and cons in relation to online dating:

Pros:

• 1 in 5 relationships start online
• 40 million U.S. singles have tried it
• You can meet people with similar interests outside of your geographic area
• It's efficient and available 24 hours a day

Cons:

• It's a crowded digital marketplace & can be exhausting
• People lie about everything, age, weight, height, marital status, etc.
• It can become addicting to some who never go the step of meeting off-line but just move from one attractive face to the next
• It can feel like a full-time job & you need to be organized

Good luck!

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