Do you use a dating site? You’re not alone. A study by Pew Research Center in summer 2015 shows you’re in abundant company.
Around 2,000 adults age 18-64 were polled. Of those, 12% said they used a dating site. That’s up from 9% just three years ago. Nine percent said they used a dating app on their smart device. That’s up from 3% in 2013. A combined 15% say they use some kind of Internet dating service. In 2013, that number was 11%. Two age demographics lead the trend. One demographic is the young adult 18-24 crowd. The second one is more surprising. As it turns out, older Americans 55-64 are turning to online dating. The number of 55-64-year-olds using dating sites have doubled (from 6 to 12 percent) since 2013. Almost one fourth of young adults say they use online dating. But there’s even more to it. Nearly half of adults say they know someone who uses online dating. And nearly 30% say they know someone who married or started a long-term monogamous relationship with online dating. Why is online dating so popular? Eighty percent of those who use it say it’s a good way to meet people. More than half say it helps people find a better match and online dating is easier and less awkward.
I too know people who used online dating. For some, it lead to successful marriages. For some, it led to first dates ending in disaster. For some, it lead to quick hook-ups. Personally, I’m still skeptical of online dating. I prefer meeting people the old fashioned way: in person. But if you are going to date online, be careful. Some dating sites are really ethical and honorable. Some are nothing but trouble. Don’t even get me started on the Ashley Madison fiasco, a fiasco that ruined lives and families. Do your research and homework, on the person as well as the website. In 2016, they’re enough tools where you can do that now. Would you use a dating site?