Online Dating

By Jayde Johanssen


Not so long ago, people thought online dating was reserved for the socially awkward, the weirdos and cranks of society who somehow couldn't function like the rest of the world. It was considered an extreme measure. Today, however, that taboo has pretty much been done away with. Now millions of people are heading to the World Wide Web in search of love. Net love has not only become acceptable, it's quickly becoming the number one method for finding the love of your life. Or if not that, a great date at least. As it stands, even older folks, grandmas and grandpas are hooking up via the net.

The numbers are astonishing. The online dating industry is enormous. Google online dating and you'll find thousands upon thousands of dating sites like eHarmony or JackFoundJill. It's really a thriving market. It makes sense too. People are turning to the web more and more to work and play, so why not throw romance into the mix? And as the number of online dating sites increases, they are become more exclusive too.

The niche dating site is more refined than your regular dating site. Niches target a small audience. They are geared for a select demographic. For instance, you can find niche dating sites catering to raw food enthusiasts or vegans. There are sites where members can only join if they enjoy adventure sports or rock music. If you're into wine, there's a niche site for that. If you like traveling the world, there's a niche there too.

Practically every interest has a niche dating site catering to it.

Many people, those who have never participated in online dating, are quick to question why. What's the point, they wonder. Why would you want to date someone who you've never met in person, never seen in the flesh? It's a legitimate question, the internet after all, isn't known for being the safest, most reputable place to find a date.

And it is nice to know what someone does look like offline, in real life.

Fans of online dating like the fact that they don't have to put themselves out on the traditional dating circuit. They don't have to limit themselves to the people they find at the local watering hole or club. Who hasn't been stuck in a conversation with some bore who thinks they are God's greatest gift to mankind? There's also the fact that the internet is global. Online daters can be much more selective than their offline counterparts. It's easier to engage in conversation online, especially when you already know about a person from reading their profile. It's more casual, less daunting. The fear of rejection you get in a live scenario isn't there.

In times of economic hardship, online dating stats seem to rise. For people worried about their income or job situation, it's easy to go online and find someone to talk to. People start to think about their priorities. They want someone to support them, to be with them, through good times and bad. It's a coping mechanism as well as a form of entertainment, in a sense. It fits your agenda, your schedule, your budget.

Of course there are a fair share of naysayers who bring up the cases that end in tragedy; or to a lesser degree, those cases where people are lied to, or mislead. However, these circumstances aren't limited to online dating. They actually occur as frequently offline as they do online.




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