How Online Dating Sites Have Changed the Dating Game

To say that finding compatible partners a few decades ago was hard and inefficient would be an understatement. Many of the things we take for granted these days weren’t even expensive luxuries in the past – they simply didn’t exist. Imagine not having online dating sites like Match.com to log on to when you feel like you are done with your boo. What about long dry spells after every breakup, not because you weren’t ready to move on, but because you didn’t know where to look for a new soulmate?

Now imagine putting on your best clothes and your most expensive cologne, and convincing your wing-man to tag along for a night on. You spend the night on your best behaviour, buying/receiving drinks from people who aren’t meant to be. You go to different bars each night – all in an attempt to find someone you can relate to. And even if you if you do find someone after this exhaustive process, there’s no guaranteeing that they will be the ‘one for you.’ You might spend a few dates together before you realize that you disagree on some of the most fundamental things.

Dating has gotten simpler

We don’t appreciate just how much dating has been simplified in the modern age. It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for a casual hookup or a long-term relationship, finding someone is as easy as a few clicks. You don’t have to put on an expensive suit or get your hair done in order to woo potential lovers – your dashing profile picture is enough to bring in suitors. You don’t have to cry because the ‘love of your life’ cheated on you – you can move on without having to abandon the comfort of your bathroom floor. And you don’t have to explain everything about yourself to the other person on your first date, because your online dating profile does that for you.

There are many other ways online dating sites have changed the way we look for love, and in this article, we’ll tell you exactly how.

There are plenty of fish in the online sea (really!)

By looking for dates the traditional way, you miss out on many people you might have hit it off with. Going to a local pub to find someone interesting seems like a good option, but most of the time you will only find people from within your vicinity. But on top dating websites like eharmony, you’ll find people from all over your city – and even your state – which increases your chances of finding someone worth your time. This is precisely why the usage of online dating apps by young adults has tripled since 2013.

How has dating changed since online dating sites came around?

Invest your time and money intelligently

One of the many reasons why online dating is good is that it helps you save a lot of time, energy, and (often) even money. Traditionally, people would only realize that their partner hates something they can’t live without (e.g. John Lennon or football) multiple drinks or dinners down the line. But now, they can simply click on a person’s profile and read some of the most important details about them without even having a conversation. Not only does this save a lot of time and effort, but it also helps you avoid unpleasant first-date experiences.

Most of the top dating websites have excellent search algorithms that allow you to filter results based on your preferences. For example, if you only like to date people who fall within a certain age bracket or hail from a specific ethnicity, you can perform an advanced search to only see results that fit your criteria. The ease that dating websites has bestowed us with is the reason why one-third of all marriages and 70% of all gay marriages start online.

Fewer unhealthy relationships

One of the biggest reasons why people hold on to unhealthy relationships is that they fear they won’t find love of the same nature and intensity again. In the past, this made sense because it could be really difficult and time-consuming to find someone worthy of your trust and unconditional love. But online dating sites have made this task simpler. If you feel trapped in a relationship or marriage, or just want to bid adieu to your beau because you’ve had enough, you don’t have to worry about being alone – there are many people you can reach out to whenever you want. All you need to do is create a killer dating profile and start looking for people who like the same pizza toppings as you.

E-meeting is much easier than actually meeting

The fact that we can get to know people without actually meeting them makes online dating so efficient and rewarding. You might be afraid to have dinner with a total stranger you met at a bar, but you’ll almost certainly feel safer going out with a person you’ve chatted with for a month and know a great deal about. Many online dating statistics substantiate the preceding statements. For example, only 44% of people believed that online dating was a good way to meet people in 2005, but by 2015, the number had gone up to 59%. Transforming an online chatting relationship to a real-life dating affair is also possible courtesy of online dating sites.

Final Word

Online dating sites like Zoosk have brought about a paradigm shift in the way we approach dating and find our soulmates. From providing efficient search engines that allow you to filter people based on your personal preferences, to making sure that only verified profiles exist on a dating website, to providing ways to communicate your feelings without saying a word (by winking or sending kisses), online dating applications have simplified dating and made it a fun affair.

Whereas in the past you only really got to know a person after the first few dates, now you can know the most important things about them without even saying ‘hi.’ Finding thousands of potential dates in a second might be something we take for granted today, but know that a few decades ago you just didn’t have the luxury to cherry-pick like this.