Online Dating Compared To Playing Roulette Or Working A Part-Time Job
Those hoping to score a Valentine this year may not have such luck with online dating. Recent reports revealed that looking for that special someone online is a lot like gambling or holding down a second job.
That doesn’t sound hopeful to the thousands of people who are looking for love, and hoping to find it online. The online dating world has expanded with the various sites and apps out there. But it’s hard to figure out which ones will help you find the right mate.
Even Nathan Allred is still looking for love. He told 2 Wants 2 Know that he’s well-versed with the online dating world.
“I’ve seen it all. I’ve been on all the dating websites. There’s match.com, there’s e-Harmony, Plenty of Fish, Tinder, Zoosk.”
There is one successful story from Sam Rose who met her boyfriend online.
“I’ve had some horrible dates and I’ve had some really good ones. I mean, I found him on Craigslist so…” she responded with a laugh. Then, she added, “Online dating can be really rewarding if you allow it to be. I don’t think it’s anything to be scared of.”
Of course, there are plenty of people who are scared off by the thought of looking for someone on Craigslist, and with good reason.
According to a study by John Cacioppo, a University of Chicago professor of psychology, more than 34 percent of married couples met online between 2005 and 2012. Only 26 percent met through their friends or place of work. Is online dating really worth the trouble? A recent report in The Seattle Times revealed that looking for that right someone has turned into a second job.
That’s because with the variety of websites and apps out there, it’s become a lot of work to find someone. In addition, online dating has become the normal thing to do for the millennial generation. It’s way more preferred over meeting someone at a bar or a nightclub.
So, how did it become a part-time job? According to Eric Klinenberg, a New York University professor of sociology and author, it’s because we have become analytical over our choices like we do when it comes to our work.
“The interface we use for dating is the same interface we use for work. So many people spend their workdays sitting in front of a screen, doing some blend of mind-numbingly dull data entry and analysis with the occasional challenges, that when they come home at night and find themselves in front of an online dating screen and they have to do mind-numbingly dull data entry and analysis with occasionally charged moments, they are just repeating the drudgery.”
Maggie MK Hess, a writer who blogs about her online dating experience, says it’s supposed to be work.
“We work on so many aspects of our lives: We work on our careers; we work on figuring out exercise routines that work for us. It’s important! Why shouldn’t we work on it? Why shouldn’t we devote time and energy to finding the right people for ourselves who are going to make our lives richer or more fun?”
Recent studies have shown that online dating isn’t as effective as offline dating when it comes to being in a long-term relationship. That study by Cacioppo revealed that 65 percent of couples still meet offline, but not through their friends or workplaces.
Reasons why it’s difficult to meet some online is that you have to weed through the catfishers, or flaky people. There are times when a person is pretending to be someone he or she is not, or a person disappearing without telling their potential hook-up what happened.
That doesn’t mean anyone should rule out online dating entirely. An estimated 70 percent of couples will still be meeting online by the year 2040. In addition, a PewResearchCenter study shows that 38 percent of adults who are “single and looking” have used online sites or apps.
While online dating is gaining popularity, there are some people who prefer to meet someone offline. What are your thoughts on online dating? Do you agree that it’s difficult to meet someone even with the plethora of apps and sites out there? Sound off below in the comments section.
[All photos via Stokkete/Shutterstock]
