Back in the day, people used to joke about finding love online. If you take a look back at popular sitcoms of the 80s and 90s, characters would sit in front of their gigantic PC screens and create dating profiles to make themselves appear more interesting, in hopes of sparking enough interest in someone to land a date. With sites like eHarmony and Match.com, online dating has become bigger than the porn industry [X]. The expansion of e-dating has even reached the world of religion, in which there is now a site for Christians in search of companionship (see: Christian Mingle). Long gone are the simple, flirtatious encounters in which people would connect via MySpace, chartrooms and 1-800-‘party lines’. The developers of these online dating services are making a killing. According to statistics, in 2012, there were 54 million single adults living in the U.S. and 40 million of them had tried (or were trying) online dating.[X]

While online dating is modern and convenient enough for the busy career types, while also being impulsive enough for those seeking a bit of spontaneity, there are risks involved; sex offenders, frauds and in the least- wasted time by way of incompatibility. The average transition time between dating and marriage for couples who met offline is usually about 3.5 years, while those who meet online date for less than half that time before they tie the knot. A higher percentage of men seem to take a liking to online dating compared to women. Most women believe in meeting their mate organically, getting to know them face to face while aiming for a long-term commitment down the line.


While I’m all for meeting new faces on the web based on common interests and similar backgrounds, I’ve never actually tried online dating and I don’t think I ever will. I consider myself to be a pretty private person, so the act of opening up to someone takes a whole lot of time and trust. I also consider online match-making a bit too impersonal for my taste. I want to be able to interact face-to-face on the first date over dinner, not via Skype. Let’s be honest, it’s also hard to read out the phonies and the crazies. As long as people have access to the web, they can access Google for a fake picture, make a colorful profile on one of these sites and basically become whoever they want. You’ve seen Catfish[X]. It happens every day!

In this day and age everything we do on a daily basis is centered around technology. Here’s the big question: Do you believe in finding love online or going the old fashioned route? Have you ever tried online dating? If so, feel free to share your experiences! If you haven’t, what are you reasons for dismissing ‘e-love’?