They tell you there’s someone for everyone. With more than 54.25 million singles out there you should agree. The problem is that it’s not always easy to find and connect with the right people. Here is when the internet steps in. Once seen as sketchy or unsafe, online dating sites have gained a whole new reputation and become very popular in the last decade. Now, one in ten Americans have used an online dating site or mobile dating app.
Contrary to belief, 59% of all internet users agree with the statement that “online dating is a good way to meet people.” 53% of internet users agree with the statement that “online dating allows people to find a better match for themselves because they can get to know a lot more people.” While this is a true statement, many people online cannot be trusted.
We’ve all heard the stories and seen the TV shows of people not actually being who they portrayed themselves to be online. For that reason, many people question is online dating safe? The answer in many cases is yes but there are still dangers as are most things on the world wide web. Luckily, more companies are creating safe dating sites featuring online dating background checks. These checks are often performed by law enforcement personnel. This eliminates the stigma centered around online dating and gives new meaning to secure online dating.
66% of online daters have gone on a date with someone they met through a dating site or app. 23% of online daters say they have met a spouse or long term relationship through dating sites. Still think online dating sites are sketchy? Here’s another fun fact: 42% of all Americans know an online dater and 29% know someone who has used online dating to find a spouse or other long-term relationship. Basically, almost half the people you know have tried online dating and almost a third of those people are in long-term relationships. These numbers are more likely to be higher in millennials where the online dating culture is most accepted.
So the next time you think of getting your feet wet in the dating pool, try online dating sites and apps. That special someone for you is closer and easier to find than you think. And unlike in real life, these matches come pre-screened.
