Online dating has grown in popularity over the years. There are many websites out there that offer a variety of matching services. All of them boast pretty good success rates. Over the years, the stigma surrounding online dating has diminished, and it is now regarded as a legitimate way to meet a potential love interest. Like any matchmaking service, online dating has its good and bad points. Here are some pros and cons of online dating.
PROS
The biggest advantage with online dating is that people who are paying money to sign up for a dating website are taking it seriously. This means that the people you contact on there are looking for the same thing you are. It’s not somewhere people go to find a fling. When you sign up for online dating, you are hoping to find a meaningful relationship that has a future. It is safe to assume that the people you are matched with are looking for the same thing. The whole idea of wondering if someone is taking the date seriously is avoided.
Another pro for online dating is that by the time you get around to talking to someone, you have a pretty good idea about each other’s interests and values. Online dating websites use a variety of techniques to determine the best matches for you. They strive to find people with similar goals, hobbies, values, and ambitions. You can also list the type of person you are looking for, from physical attributes to personality traits. By the time contact is made, you have a solid idea of what that person is all about.
Online dating also offers many options. Websites will match you with several people. You can choose to initiate communication with one or several different ones. From there, you can decide which ones you would like to go on a date with. If you don’t feel that connection on the first date, there are other people who are matched with you. It’s an easy way to meet people with less pressure than a speed dating situation. Also, the stigma of being rejected is not as stinging this way.
CONS
Perhaps the biggest con of online dating is that a lot of the mystery of getting to know someone is removed. That is only partly true. While you do have a good idea of someone’s hopes and dreams before you go on a date, you by no means know everything about them. No matter how you meet someone, you continue to learn more and more about that person. Still, some people think that online dating is taking the easier road toward getting to know someone.
Another con is the potential deception some online daters use. The biggest example is someone who posts a misleading profile picture. While physical appearance isn’t everything, it is an important part of attraction. When someone posts a misleading picture, it can be jarring for the other person when they see what someone actually looks like. It’s human nature to make ourselves look as good as possible, both physically and personally. The potential for someone to exaggerate things is high with online dating.
Another con is the cost. Some websites charge high fees for signing up and continuing monthly membership. For some people, they get lucky right away and the small investment is more than worth it for finding someone they love. Others struggle, and wind up spending many months on an online dating website. That can end up costing a lot of money.
It is up to each person to determine what they want to get out of online dating. You have to determine how much you really want to find someone and how willing you are to overlook certain things in a person’s profile. For some people, the cost of online dating is not worth it. For others, it is a small price to pay to help in finding someone you could one day marry.