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The age-old notion – plucked straight from the pages of a romantic novel – of
locking eyes with a stranger across a crowded room is becoming increasingly
unlikely. After all, how are you going to catch their attention if it’s held by
their smartphone?
As more and more of us whip out our mobiles the second a friend pops away
from the restaurant table or bar, it’s fitting that the stigma of meeting
someone online – whether by app or dating website – is swiftly falling away. In
fact, one in five relationships now begin online, with Tinder alone matching 26
million people a day.
And there is no age limit to meeting your match on the web. Those after
mature dating are catered for by a wide range of apps and websites. Sites such
as Senior People Meet and our very own Telegraph Dating are perfect for over
50s.
But if you’re still unsure whether online dating is right for you, here’s why
we think you should take the initiative, find your best photo, and start writing
your profile.
1) You’re in control
With online dating, you’re in charge of everything – from what information
you put out there to how you’re contacted, and when you reply.
Instead of an awkward five second pause while you try to think of something
witty to say, you can spend time perfecting your first impression. Plus, because
you already know what the other person’s interested in, breaking the ice is
instantly easier.
One in five relationships now begin online Credit: GrandPix
2) Expand your dating pool
As experts at Match.com say, “The biggest problem we face is being limited by
our geographical location. There is a boundary to the amount of friends and work
colleagues we are introduced to and this can be quite problematic if you're
looking to meet someone.”
If you’re looking for love in your local pub, you’re only going to come
across a small number of potential dates – but online you’ve got access to
thousands, making it more likely that you’ll find someone you have a spark
with.
3) The ideal back-up plan
Signing up to dating sites doesn’t mean you’ve given up on finding someone
offline – it just means you’ve got another option working away in the
background. While you’re eyeing up a potential love interest in the self
checkout aisle, you might be getting a message from someone online.
4) Fit dating around your busy
schedule
An eHarmony study conducted earlier this year found three times as many
people log on at 2pm on Tuesday than at any other point in the week – a time
they have dubbed ‘crush hour’.
As we’re working longer hours than ever before, there’s less time to met new
people. With online dating you don’t need to get spruced up or book a sitter –
you can log in any time of day.
Credit: Betsie van der Meer/Taxi
5) Breaking out of a rut
Always going for moody and sarcastic types? Experts at Match.com point out we
all too often overlook people who don’t fit our idea of a perfect match, adding
“The idea of dating websites is to give you the opportunity to meet people that
you might not have otherwise had the chance to.”
You can also join sites based on specific interests (from Equestrian Cupid to
Veggie Date) and based on where you get your news (like Telegraph Dating). When
you approach somebody in a bar you go by looks alone, making it feel like
finding a needle in a haystack. With online dating, you can pinpoint exactly the
kind of person you’re looking for.
6) It works
One in three Match.com connections pass the six month mark to become
committed relationships, and 5 per cent of US marriages now began on
eHarmony.
Research released by the PEW Research Centre in 2016 found nearly half of
American college graduates know someone who met their husband, wife, or
long-term partner via online dating – and almost two in three respondents agreed
that online dating is easier and more efficient than other ways of meeting
people.
The average length of courtship for a married couple that met online is also
lower than for a married couple that met offline.
So what are you waiting for?
(THE TELEGRAPH)
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