Why People Date Online (And Should You?)

Why, after over a millennium of physical meet and greets, wooing, betrothing and arranged marriages, are so many people so willing to hand over amorous matching to mathematical algorithms? Once humans chose matches based on those best able to propagate a genetic line, while also caring for and protecting it. As survival became easier, marriages acted as bargaining chips to seal beneficial relationships between families, villages and kingdoms. Then came the era of romance and “free love”, not in the 1960’s sense, but in the sense that both genders were free to choose their partner based solely on a mutual kinship. Not that all marriages before this were loveless, it just simply wasn’t the foundation. Love grew from the shared struggle of a life lived together and in unison. When once there was love because of a committed relationship , now we seek a committed relationship because of love – love coming before the relationship, that is. Can one determine the truth behind lasting love before a lifetime together? That is the gamble that is made at every wedding and only the years it takes to lay down the cards will determine the sincerity of each partner.

So, why do people use online dating? Why has this complex evolution now evolved to one that we seek to determine by a swipe of the finger?

1. No one has time anymore for the baby steps – We may no longer be fighting the saber-tooth and elements of nature, but we’ve traded those enemies for mortgages, healthcare and recreational costs… Our time is more monopolized now than it’s ever been before in the civilized world, with many companies expecting round the clock on call service and dedication to the job and your coworkers (whom you’re not supposed to date!). There is no time for getting to know the basics about someone. Online dating gives you the luxury of all that pre-date small talk without the time it consumes. Post it once, and it’s good for all your potential dates.
2. Our priorities have changed – Since we now mostly exist in a world where a dual gender “team” is no longer required to ensure the survival of our species, are our priorities still a lasting bond with a single individual? Many people, more and more are simply looking to have their physical needs met but not interested in commitment. Again, online dating provides something similar to a catalog service of available singles who are possibly looking for the same thing you are…
3. More comfortable with technology – With each new generation, people become more and more comfortable with technology being in more intimate parts of their lives. To many millennials, turning to the online community for dating is completely natural and even preferred, especially for those with social anxiety issues.
4. Allows you to utilize down time – Maybe you’re on week five of working late and project deadlines? Online dating allows you to utilize your lounge time to potentially grow your love life. Instead of having to take the time and money to get dressed up and go out on the town, you can meet and engage with interested singles from the comfort of your home, no matter what time of day! You may just find the love of your life in between loads of laundry!
5. It’s fun, as simple as that – Online dating can be tons of fun and connect you with a much larger variety of people than you might have had access to hanging out in the same part of town that you usually do. Using location-based dating services allows you to find quick matches locally for nothing more than a fun evening together at a concert or local club!

So, is online dating for you? If you fall into one of the above categories, it’s definitely worth giving it a try!

A kiss that is never tasted, is forever and ever wasted.
– Billie Holiday

photo credit: <a href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/notionscapital/2642630019/”>Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>cc</a&gt;