Online dating is more popular than ever, and there’s no shortage of dating sites and apps today to slake even the hardiest serial dater’s appetites.
Most of the popular platforms today, including Tinder, OkCupid, Bumble, and Match.com, have only been around for a few years. But they’ve attracted a lot of single hopefuls from around the world. In 2019, Tinder was ranked as the number one non-gaming app when it comes to revenue. That’s a lot of people swiping right.
Since this new matchmaking phenomenon has gained so much traction, here are a few interesting facts about online dating.
5 Interesting Facts About Online Dating
1. There Are Slightly More Men Than Women
A widespread misconception exists that more men are trawling around online dating sites than women. The real number is much more equal. According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, there are about 52.4% of men versus 47.6% of women registered on dating sites, on average.
2. Lying Is Common in Online Dating
As much as everyone dislikes being lied to, many people – more than 54% in fact – are okay with some creative fibbing on their profiles. The most popular lies revolve around physical traits like height and weight, age, marital status, and jobs or income.
It’s mostly men who lie about their careers, with around 40% having said they inflated their income in a survey by global research agency Opinion Matters. Meanwhile, approximately 20% of women had said they used older photos on their dating profiles in the same survey.
3. Creeps Stalk As Well Online
Whether new to online dating or a veteran dater, most people know that caution is vital when it comes to meeting someone new. There’s a certain level of trust that needs to be built first since the person on the other side is invariably a total stranger.
It’s essential to do things like being in a safe, public space when meeting for the first time. However, there are some safety issues when it comes to chatting online too. Everyone knows about the general safety rules like keeping social profiles private and fact-checking the other person on Google.
But there are some more advanced ones as well. For example, using a VPN to avoid being tracked via IP address, and using a Google Voice number instead of a personal one. Staying on top of things like these helps bring peace of mind and makes the experience much less stressful.
4. People Prefer Chatting on Video Before The First Date
eHarmony’s Third Annual Happiness Index revealed that 85% of people think that chatting on a video call first is a good idea. This makes sense on a lot of levels.
It gives both people a chance to get a feeling for each other without wasting time (and money) on a date in person. But it’s also much safer and doesn’t require a friend call with a fake emergency if the date is going horribly.
5. Continued Harassment is a Problem
Unfortunately, there’s always that one person who refuses to take no for an answer. It’s hard not to take things personally in the dating world, and hearing “No, I’m not interested” can be crushing – but some won’t be satisfied.
About 37% of people who use online dating platforms say that someone kept bothering them after they said they’re not interested. At least, that’s according to a new report released by the Pew Research Center. Interestingly, or rather sadly, 35% of the respondents in that report also attested to having been sent unsolicited explicit photos or messages.
The Bottom Line
In the end, there are both pitfalls and advantages to online dating. Navigating all the do’s, don’ts, and intricacies of online dating can be overwhelming and confusing at times, but the pay-off could be worthwhile.
Plus, there’s a better chance of meeting that special someone (or a good hook-up, no judgment here) than when not trying. Here’s the last freebie: around 20% of people in the US have reportedly found their life partner online, compared to only 9% who found them in a bar or club.