While majorities across various demographic groups are more likely to describe their searches as easy, rather than difficult, there are some differences by gender. There are substantial gender differences in the amount of attention online daters say they received on dating sites or apps.

The survey also asked online daters about their experiences with getting messages from people they were interested in. And while gender differences remain, they are far less pronounced. Online daters widely believe that dishonesty is a pervasive issue on these platforms. By contrast, online daters are less likely to think harassment or bullying, and privacy violations, such as data breaches or identify theft, are very common occurrences on these platforms.

Some experts contend that the open nature of online dating — that is, the fact that many users are strangers to one another — has created a less civil dating environment and therefore makes it difficult to hold people accountable for their behavior.

This survey finds that a notable share of online daters have been subjected to some form of harassment measured in this survey. Fewer online daters say someone via a dating site or app has threatened to physically harm them. Younger women are particularly likely to encounter each of these behaviors. The likelihood of encountering these kinds of behaviors on dating platforms also varies by sexual orientation.

LGB users are also more likely than straight users to say someone on a dating site or app continued to contact them after they told them they were not interested, called them an offensive name or threatened to physically harm them.

The creators of online dating sites and apps have at times struggled with the perception that these sites could facilitate troubling — or even dangerous — encounters.

And although there is some evidence that much of the stigma surrounding these sites has diminished over time, close to half of Americans still find the prospect of meeting someone through a dating site unsafe.

Americans who have never used a dating site or app are particularly skeptical about the safety of online dating. There are some groups who are particularly wary of the idea of meeting someone through dating platforms. Age and education are also linked to differing attitudes about the topic.

Americans — regardless of whether they have personally used online dating services or not — also weighed in on the virtues and pitfalls of online dating. These users also believe dating sites and apps generally make the process of dating easier.

On the other hand, people who said online dating has had a mostly negative effect most commonly cite dishonesty and the idea that users misrepresent themselves. Pluralities also believe that whether a couple met online or in person has little effect on the success of their relationship. Public attitudes about the impact or success of online dating differ between those who have used dating platforms and those who have not.

People who have ever used a dating site or app also have a more positive assessment of relationships forged online. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.

It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World.

Newsletters Press Donate My Account. Formats Features Fact Sheets Videos Data Essays. Research Topics. Features Fact Sheets Videos Data Essays. Next: 1. You are reading page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6. Sign up for our Internet, Science and Tech newsletter New findings, delivered monthly. Report Materials Complete Report PDF Topline Questionnaire Shareable facts about Americans' experiences with online dating American Trends Panel Wave 56 Dataset.

Table of Contents The Virtues and Downsides of Online Dating. Related Report May 8, Short Read Mar 24, Romance fraudster posing as Nicolas Cage scammed vulnerable woman out of thousands of pounds, says Victim Support. I was just scared that he was going to come to my house and eventually kill me. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. Around seven million UK residents are currently registered on dating sites, and it's estimated one in three relationships in the UK now starts online.

Sky News found crimes involving two of the biggest apps, Tinder and Grindr, have been rising year on year. Some users told me they've now noticed a darker side to dating ranging from an increase in fake profiles to drug-fuelled sex parties.

Online dater Bobu Constantin says he's now more cautious about which apps he uses: "Since I joined Grindr a couple of years ago wasn't very bad, now it's very, it's actually extremely bad" he said. Most sites now offer safety tips and while Tinder didn't respond to Sky News' request for a comment, Grindr says it doesn't condone violent or abusive behaviour and works with the authorities and LGBTQ communities to help protect users. In a statement a spokesperson said: "Grindr is committed to creating a safe environment through a system of digital and human screening tools to help its users connect and thrive.

While we are constantly improving upon this process, it is important to remember that Grindr is an open platform. The National Crime Agency has been monitoring violence connected to online dating and has detected the number of rapes being reported has risen sixfold in five years.

So how can you stay safe online? Grindr offers tips including telling users to protect their identities, tell a friend where you're going and who you are meeting and report any attacks or threats to law enforcement. Sky News - back to home. Watch Live.

Share this page. Matching profiles against a database to help introduce singles to potential life partners has been around for a long time. This dating phenomenon however, really took off with the arrival of the internet. Online dating sites maintain databases which keep track of a large pool of people who sign up for the service. Most of these sites run on a subscription model which means that for a fee, you get to browse profiles and if you see a someone you think you would like to connect with, allow various forms of messaging to put you in touch with each other.

Members of these dating sites provide information about themselves. Depending on the site you choose, information required can go from a simple, basic profile, to a request of your entire life in exhaustive detail. For example, they may ask for dietary habits, how many times a week you exercise and many more details. Needless to say, if you are looking for a site which will increase your chances of finding a better match, then those which ask for more information in your profile and also run algorithms to increase the likelihood of a good match are going to be more helpful.

So what are some of the reasons why online dating has become a phenomenon? The best thing about these websites is they can match you up with thousands of potential life partners. Being able to list and specify what you are looking for in a person will give you the chance to meet someone similar to yourself.

If your beliefs are important to you and you happen to be part of a community where your culture or spiritual beliefs are in the minority, then online dating can introduce you to people who share the same belief systems.

You and the People You Meet are Open about What You are Looking For. This tends to remove a lot of the uncertainty which you might have in the initial stages of the relationship. Are children important to you? Is my religion incompatible with yours? If you are shy, then online dating sites are a godsend! Being able to express who you are in the form of pictures, video messages and profiles means that you have time to think through what you want to say about yourself and to share it with other people without the pressure of having to cover it all in a brief encounter.

Few things in life are perfect, and whilst online dating has a lot going for it, you need to be aware of the flip side to all that goodness. Whilst being able to specify exactly how often your future spouse works out, what sort of food they eat and what type of job they do might sound great, in reality, you may be so focused on what you think you want that you might miss out on what you ought to want.

Most happily married couples will tell you that the glue that holds them together through thick and thin lies in a shared values system.

Unfortunately, most online dating site profiles tend to focus on the attributes of your potential dates on not on the values which they might have. Apart from the difficulty that sites have in checking the accuracy of the information submitted, profiles cannot tell you everything about a person. There are non-verbal behavioural cues which you can only know about when you interact directly with a person.

What if that perfectly gorgeous man you chose picks his teeth and has poor personal hygiene? If you are a clean-freak, this is definitely not going to work! On a more serious note, qualities such as chemistry, empathy and compassion are almost impossible to assess from a profile. Most Sites Put A lot of Focus on Physical Attractiveness. As a result, many sites have a strong focus on physical attractiveness and member behaviours tend to demonstrate this slant as well.

However, we all know that attraction manifests itself along many dimensions. The 2D photograph is only a very narrow one. Other factors lie in intangibles such as posture and carriage, self-confidence, personality and even that great unknown — animal chemistry!. Things in the virtual world move along a different timeline. Knowing someone online for 2 weeks may seem like a life time, and you might feel that you are ready for a romantic relationship.

But in reality, you probably would never invite someone to go on a date with you that might turn intimate if you had known them through friends for that same amount of time.

So be very careful. You never know if you that profile that you are looking at is real. Before you go online, learn to protect yourself. Tags: Dating Tips. Dating is not about finding the right one or trying to be the right one. It is about being yourself. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Turn on more accessible mode. Turn off more accessible mode.

Skip Ribbon Commands. Skip to main content. Turn off Animations. Turn on Animations. Skip to content. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. The Pros and Cons of Online Dating. What is Online Dating? The Good So what are some of the reasons why online dating has become a phenomenon? You Get to Meet More People The best thing about these websites is they can match you up with thousands of potential life partners.

You Can Meet Like-Minded People Being able to list and specify what you are looking for in a person will give you the chance to meet someone similar to yourself. The Bad Few things in life are perfect, and whilst online dating has a lot going for it, you need to be aware of the flip side to all that goodness. You May be Blindsided by Your Preferences Whilst being able to specify exactly how often your future spouse works out, what sort of food they eat and what type of job they do might sound great, in reality, you may be so focused on what you think you want that you might miss out on what you ought to want.

Romantic Pressure Things in the virtual world move along a different timeline. It gives you a chance to meet more people of a similar mindset and intent. It is difficult to gauge intangible factors such as values, true attraction and compatibility from online interactions. As in any environment, you need to take steps to protect yourself from potential scams and dangers. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE.

So be very careful. Get our newsletter every Friday! Tostee insists he did not shove Wright from the balcony. The four reportedly began assaulting Sandy, who ran onto the Belt Parkway and was struck dead by a vehicle. search articles find an expert. Researchers from Stanford University and Michigan State University surveyed more than people and they learned that breakups were more common in couples who met online versus offline. You Get to Meet More People The best thing about these websites is they can match you up with thousands of potential life partners.

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