Friday, July 27, 2012

Why Online Dating Is Gaining in Popularity

By Jayde Johanssen


Although online dating used to be the last resort for the less lucky in dating, it has now waved off that stigma becoming a popular means for millions of bachelors and bachelorettes to connect. Singles are meeting new people and finding potential love matches each and every day. Now more then ever before, net courtship is gaining widespread, mainstream acceptance. Even older couples are meeting online and falling in love.

It's a huge industry. Sites like Match.com, Plenty of Fish and eHarmony are raking in the dough as users sign up and log-in in the pursuit of true love. Such is the popularity of the field that more and more online dating sites are popping up each day, catering to more discriminating customers.

For the more selective, niche dating sites are a big draw. A niche dating site is usually focused on religion or ethnicity, but there are hundreds, thousands even, of sites out there which target social groups such as self proclaimed geeks or nerds. There are dating sites geared at hipsters and cyclers. You can even find matchmaking sites for tattoo enthusiasts, animal lovers, republicans, democrats and oenophiles (wine lovers).

Practically every interest has a niche dating site catering to it.

Many people, those who have never participated in online dating, are quick to question why. What's the point, they wonder. Why would you want to date someone who you've never met in person, never seen in the flesh? It's a legitimate question, the internet after all, isn't known for being the safest, most reputable place to find a date.

And traditionally, it is a good thing to know what your date looks like, in person.

Online daters will be the first to tell their critics that they aren't up to speed with the times. Meeting people at Bingo or at the local club is old hat. Traditional dating is really hit or miss. You have no idea what a person's interests are before hand. With online dating, you can peruse profiles and find people that you actually think will be a good fit. There's also handy matching software which helps daters in the compatibility department. Online dating is a lot more selective. It's easier in a sense. Plus it's more casual; people are more at ease within their own homes. The whole dating ritual of going out and ending up stuck in a conversation with someone you can't stand can be avoided completely.

Online dating also has its benefits in times of economic or social uncertainty. Finding someone to talk to online when things are rough can be comforting. In difficult times people start thinking about their priorities. They start to yearn for someone to love and to cherish through the good and the bad. Online dating can help with that.

Critics of online dating say its dangerous. People lie. They cheat. They disappoint. What they don't realize is that people do those same things offline too.




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