Are Online Dating Sites A Good Route To A Relationship?

We seem to do everything online these days, from grocery shopping to booking holidays and now we can also source a potential mate and make new friends. But isn’t this just a little bit impersonal and do dating sites really work?

A new era in technology

The creation of the worldwide web has completely transformed the way we communicate and interact with each other. Mobile devices and wireless networks allow us to communicate with each other in new and innovative ways and as a result the way we socialise and build relationships is changing too.

The rise and rise of social networking sites serves to prove what gregarious creatures. We have a fundamental need to reach out and connect with other people. It makes perfect sense, therefore, that the dating industry has spotted the potential of technology in terms of how it can help introduce people to others in new ways.

Finding love online

Online dating has grown at an incredible rate in recent years, fueled by a changing culture and growing acceptance that it is a viable way to find a partner. Research suggests that up to one in five partnerships are now forged through the internet.

Once a user has uploaded a photo and description, he or she can then peruse the online profiles of other users at leisure, selecting those that appeal the most with a view to contacting them. With contact choices including private messaging, email, phone and VOIP such as Skype, it’s possible for people to get to know each other extremely well before meeting face to face.

Niche markets

It’s not just heterosexual couples who are meeting up online. A quick scan of the sites on offer shows that there are dating agencies specializing in a wide range of areas, such as gay, adult, senior, casual and even extramarital relationships for those so inclined. People are able to connect with other like-minded individuals in a way that has never been possible until now.

Online dating may seem impersonal to those of us who remember a time before widespread mobile communication but it is definitely here to stay. The ability to browse through profiles and make contact with people before progressing to a meeting makes it easy to take charge of the process and the way it is organized means that you are likely to find like-minded people. People are being given the tools to transform their lives which is an empowering situation to be in.