What Will Google Announce Next Week?
Facebook Forced To Let You Vote On Privacy Changes
More Americans Finding Their Mates Online
It used to be that, if you wanted to meet that special someone, you had to chat up people at bars or go on dates set up by friends and family. Sure, there have always been personal ads and dating services, but they were generally considered the realm of the desperate. But now, social networks have turned the Internet into one giant repository of personal ads, and much of the stigma associated with online dating has disappeared. In fact, according to a recent study by Michael Rosenfeld from Stanford University, as many as one quarter of all couples first met online.Rosenfeld has called the Web the greatest technological shake-up the dating scene has ever witnessed. While the phone certainly was a game changer, it only allowed you, largely anyway, to stay in contact with people you already knew. The Internet, on the other hand, has turned people into their own matchmakers. Now, thanks to dedicated dating sites like OkCupid and Match.com, as well as Facebook, those playing the field are identifying and evaluating potential mates from the comfort of their computers.
| Yes | |
|---|---|
| No | |
| I'm single. |
Interestingly, it seems that users are turning to the Web to escape the pool of potential partners with whom they're already familiar. Often, people who meet online are not even friends of friends, but complete strangers with little discernible social connection to one another. These Internet romances are also more likely to cross religious and ethnic lines, and are more likely to be same-sex relationships (basically, Pat Robertson's nightmare). Rosenfeld believes that the Web will overtake other venues for meeting matches in the near future. He told the AFP that the Internet "may reshape the kinds of partners and relationships we have." [From: AFP and NPR]
40 Years Later 'Napalm Girl' Tells Her Story
Disney World Scammers Scored Four Years of Free Vacations
Lost Dr. Seuss Cartoons Show Another Side Of The Author
Stranger's Kiss Keeps 16-Year-Old From Committing Suicide
Rookie Cop Reportedly Berated, Called 'A Rat' For Arresting Off-Duty Officer
PHOTOS: Charlize Theron's Short And Shoulder-Baring Style
Walmart Ending Membership in Conservative Group
How I Went Bankrupt at 23
Chain Food Showdown: The Best & Worst Buffalo Wings
Can a New Guy Save Best Buy?
Woman Claims Kangaroo Stalked Her for 2 Days, Then Attacked
Disturbing Video Allegedly Shows Montreal Torso Suspect Murdering Victim
Pete Cosey Dead: Chicago Guitar Great and Miles Davis Collaborator Dies at 68
Facebook, Week Two: Fortunes Made and Fortunes Lost (Mostly Lost)
Kansas Police Search For 12-Year-Old Girl Who Disappeared With Canadian She Met Online
Michael Grant Dead: Crescent Shield Singer Dies Aged 39
George Zimmerman's Bond Revoked
Student Ate Roommate's Brain And Heart, Cops Say
Heidi Klum's Sexiest (And Scariest) Outfits
Witherspoon Bigamy Case Heats Up
New Discovery Sheds Light On Amelia Earhart Mystery
Is Kate Walsh Leaving 'Private Practice' Next Season?
Porn Actor Mailed Murder Victim's Body Parts To Canada's Top Political Parties: Cops
Space Agency Predicts Date Of World-Ending Galactic Smash-Up
See Kim Without Her Wig On 'Don't Be Tardy For The Wedding'
Zhang Ziyi Slams Prostitution Allegations
LOOK: Photos Of Military Moms Breastfeeding In Uniform Cause Controversy
Calif. Man Becomes Internet Sensation In China For Random Act Of Kindness
PHOTOS: This Month's Biggest Photoshop Fails
Luka Magnotta: 'I'll Be Back -- And This Time The Victims Won't Be Animals'
Why You Should Never Wear One Of These To A Job Interview (And Other Tips)
New Video Shows Face-Eating Attack Lasted 18 Minutes
Comments
30
Subscribe to commentsJOHNNY SIMANCASAug 17th 2010 5:57PM
WELL, I MET MY WIFE ONLINE 1N 1971 , WE MARRIED IN 1973 WE HAVE BEING MARRIED FOR 37 YEARS
Ali Al-KharoufAug 17th 2010 6:09PM
I have to disagree with ajschrod. These sites aren't just the bastions of younger people looking to sow their oats. They're also chock-full of old goats looking to sow their oats. I am in my 50s, have tried various Internet dating sites and found that the majority of men were just looking to get laid. Many were secretly married. There also were an alarming number of those who were beyond dysfunctional. I finally gave up, and have decided to stick to meeting men the old-fashioned way: in person. That's not to say they can't be jerks, too. But they're more likely to show their true colors a lot sooner than on the Internet, where it's easier for people to lie and misrepresent themselves.
AngelaAug 17th 2010 7:02PM
I agree... it's easier for people to lie online, especially if their only intention is sex. However, for someone looking for a serious relationship... they may not to waste any time and be completely up front with a person (or brutally honest) in order to move on to the next candidate. Either way, it can be very discouraging to someone who isn't having any luck. A person should be prepared to deal with all sorts of people and situations before jumping into the online dating scene.
JustinAug 17th 2010 6:26PM
My wife and I met on eharmony and have been together now for almost 5 years. We have a wonderful relationship and we would recommend that site to anyone.
AngelaAug 17th 2010 9:28PM
About 5 years ago, I tried out match.com because I am pretty shy and not one to go out to the bars. I thought it would be fun to pick and choose who I wanted to contact. I didn't have much luck with it.... had one very nice date with a perfect gentleman, but the rest were pretty strange men. After pretty much giving up on it, one man (who lived 2 hours away) had emailed me as I was one of the suggested matches the site had sent to his email. We emailed back and forth, and because I used to live in the city where he was from we had quite a bit to talk about. We then talked on the phone for a while, and became very good friends. We decided to meet after several months of talking on the phone. He made the 2 hour drive, and it truly was love at first sight.
We dated for 3 years before getting married last year. He proposed at the same location where we first met - Niagara Falls. I feel very lucky to have met him, especially the way we did. We took a chance at something that was still pretty uncommon at the time. I wish everyone the best of luck if you try to find someone online. It can be pretty discouraging, but it IS possible to find your true love!
hackbo9Aug 17th 2010 7:14PM
I met my wife on match.com, it was the luckiest day of my life. At 42 I thought
I might never meet the perfect woman for me, boy was I wrong.
AmandaAug 17th 2010 8:01PM
I agree with those posters who said that online dating is more likely to find people who are liars, posers, and merely out to get laid no matter what their ages are. I'm happily married (found my husband in the offline world), but if he died before I did, I'd rather spend the rest of my life as the "crazy cat lady" than risk heartache or worse sticking my toes into the shark pool of online dating!
Oh, and I have to disagree with Ajschrod on another point. S/he said that it's too bad that more people don't go to church. Well, guess what? There are other religions out there besides Christianity now, and that's a good thing for those who were never meant to be Christian. Besides, you don't go to church to meet people, you go there to hear about how you're going to hell because you're not barefoot, pregnant, wearing a dress, and blindly following Scriptural dictates instead of using the mind that you were blessed with to think for yourself! At least that's all I ever got out of it....
Gary DAug 23rd 2010 2:01PM
I met my awesome wife in 1999 on aol love 30's chat room we chatted on line and talked on the phone and finally in 2001 we met in chicago airport she flew here from new york and I was from wisconsin after visting for 2 weeks she went back to new york sold her business she also sold her car and flew back to wisconsin. since both of us were married before we sorted out all issues before we got married. we plan to get married in Oct 6,2001 but cause of ex's and other issues we flew to Vegas on Oct 21, 2001 got married. still together today waiting for next trip to Vegas.
MacAug 17th 2010 10:34PM
"Rosenfeld has called the Web the greatest technological shake-up the dating scene has ever witnessed."
I think possibly Rosenfeld is overlooking the automobile, which also caused a big shake-up in the dating scene.
oakcourtqueenAug 17th 2010 11:10PM
I met my husband in Yahoo clubs (groups) 10 1/2 yrs ago. He is from North Carolina and he relocated to Louisiana, where I have lived all of my life. We just celebrated our 9th anniversary.
Whether you want to meet someone on a free or pay site, do your homework checking out the person & be careful. While there are sincere people out there who are geniunely looking for friendship/companionship, the are also some who have other motives.