Not so long ago, people thought online dating was reserved for the socially awkward, the weirdos and cranks of society who somehow couldn’t function like the rest of the world. It was considered an extreme measure. Today, however, that taboo has pretty much been done away with. Now millions of people are heading to the World Wide Web in search of love. Net love has not only become acceptable, it’s quickly becoming the number one method for finding the love of your life. Or if not that, a great date at least. As it stands, even older folks, grandmas and grandpas are hooking up via the net.
The numbers are astonishing. The online dating industry is enormous. Google online dating and you’ll find thousands upon thousands of dating sites like eHarmony or JackFoundJill. It’s really a thriving market. It makes sense too. People are turning to the web more and more to work and play, so why not throw romance into the mix? And as the number of online dating sites increases, they are become more exclusive too.
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.
So why is online dating so popular? It’s a question that many skeptics– those who’ve never dipped their toe in the online dating waters, so to speak– ask their convert friends. For those who aren’t immersed in the world of online dating, it may still seem odd. The internet is known for its fictions as much as for its facts.
And a lot of people prefer to know what their potential partner actually looks like, off screen.
Online daters however, are not daunted by the critics. They’re generally tired of the old hanging out in bars bit. They don’t want to sit around just waiting for the right person to come along. It may not happen. Online however, it’s a different world altogether. The internet is world wide. You can meet people from everywhere, not just your hometown. You’re not limited. Communication is instantaneous and there are millions of possibilities. It’s also a lot more relaxing to be able to chat with someone from the comfort of your own home, too. There’s no fear of face to face rejection. It’s easier to find people with similar likes and dislikes.
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.
Of course there are a fair share of naysayers who bring up the cases that end in tragedy; or to a lesser degree, those cases where people are lied to, or mislead. However, these circumstances aren’t limited to online dating. They actually occur as frequently offline as they do online.
Online dating websites offer physical opportunities to those seeking love. Jayde Johanssen recognises the online dating universe is nothing more than a cyber reflection of the physical dating universe. Another opportunity for love, nothing sinister.
Tags: dating, dating advice, friendship, internet dating, Love, online dating, people, relationships, romance, self improvement, society