The Pros and Cons of Online Dating

Online dating allows singles, couples, or groups to meet each other online with the hopes of forming a social, romantic, or sexual relationship. Those that sign up with an online dating service typically provide information for other members to view in the form of a personal profile. This personal profile is the main deciding factor as to whether or not an online dater chooses to communication with another member of the online dating service.

Online dating, a relatively new form of social matchmaking, has both positive and negative aspects to it. Just as any sort of social interaction can have pros and cons, this is also true with online dating. Here is a list of some of the commonly understood pros and cons of online dating and internet matchmaking.

• Dating sites can allow singles looking for a relationship to meet more people interested in dating than they would without this form of dating outlet

• An online dater has a greater choice in who he or she meets because they are allowed to browse through several profiles before deciding to communicate, or they can deny communication with an interested party and still remain anonymous

• Fear of rejection or social awkwardness can be reduced due to the fact that initial interaction through most online dating services is anonymous

• Potential matches have a greater opportunity to get to know each others interests before put into the situation of physical interaction

• Some members may join a site (particularly a free sign up) just to view profiles, whether or not they are interested in dating anyone

• On several dating sites the number of men outnumber the number of women

• Because of the anonymity of online dating, members may misrepresent themselves, particularly in their appearance, social and economic status, or, in some cases, age and gender

• Some members may claim to be single when they are in fact married or in the process of a divorce

• There are a few groups or indivudials that sign up for an online dating site in order to collect member’s email addresses or scam them out of money

U.S. residents spent $469.5 million on online dating and personals in 2004, the largest segment of “paid content” on the web, according to a study conducted by the Online Publishers Association (OPA) and comScore Networks. This proves that, despite the negative possibilities of online dating several singles continue to be interested in finding love online.