Is the future of dating online?

There are now 15 million people registered for online dating in the UK alone, and more join every day. They come from many different backgrounds and they’re looking for many different kinds of people. It used to be said that there was somebody out there for everyone but it was a struggle to find them. Now that online dating is making it easier, is this the future for everyone who’s looking for love?

Why do people choose online dating?

Traditionally, people have met each other through work, through friends or through hobby groups, by going out to pubs and clubs or getting talking at parties. All these ways of getting to know people can be great, but they don’t work for everyone. They can be hard to fit into a busy modern life, and getting to know a series of strangers means having to have the same conversations about potential deal-breakers again and again. Will she still be interested when she finds out you’re a single parent? Will he still like you when he realises that you hate his favourite bands? With online dating, a lot of this can be dealt with up front, so you’re only matched with people who don’t have a problem with these things. You can also limit your flirting to people who meet your basic dating criteria, so you’re not wasting energy on dealing with people who have no chance of sparking your interest.

Setting up a profile

It’s easier to get started with online dating than you might think. All you need is a flattering picture or two, some basic details about yourself and a few paragraphs that sum up who you are and what you’re looking for. If you need help with a dating profile, you’ll find whole websites devoted to helping you get it right. You might want to tailor it to suit different dating sites as there are lots of specialist ones out there catering to different groups, such as dog lovers, disabled people or people from Exeter.

Staying safe

When you meet somebody that you really connect with and you want to get to know that person offline, it’s best to have your first date in a public place and drive yourself home afterwards or arrange for a friend to collect you. Don’t give out details such as your address or easily traced information such as the company that you work for until you’re sure that you feel comfortable about this person. Anyone genuine will respect your need to play it safe.

The future of online dating

With one in five relationships now beginning online, it’s clear that dating like this has taken off in a big way. Of course, there will always be people who meet other people at work or when they’re out having fun and are lucky enough to click, but for those who don’t – or who don’t want to go to all that trouble – online dating is changing everything. It’s helping people find partners who are much better suited to them. Pretty soon, it could be couples who haven’t met that way who are the odd ones out.