Online Dating Statistics

Statistics show that 57% of online daters lie to each other about various aspects of their life and this is just one downfall to online dating (Kaspersky 2018). First of all, people may present themselves differently online. Secondly, it is more difficult to assess a match without physical interaction. Lastly, you are more likely to meet a partner through a friend. Online dating is harmful to society because it allows people to be deceptive, it is often confusing and ineffective, and for most, disheartening.

The way people present themselves online has a big impact on how others perceive you, which is why a lot of people present themselves differently. Studies show that 53% of US participants admitted to having lied in their online dating profile (Psychology Today 2018). It is proven that women lie more than men on their dating profiles, most lies involving looks, they might use pictures that are not of themselves or that are from previous years ago and no longer look like their present selves. A key factor that men lie about is their financial situation. They say they have a better job then they actually do, meaning they make more money than in reality; 40% of men indicated that they did this (Psychology Today 2018). This goes to show the saying “looks are deceiving” is real.

Since dating online is nothing but talking through a screen, it lacks the basic fundamentals needed to assess a partner, which is physical interaction. Communicating only through a screen does not provide enough information that you get from face to face interaction. For example, touching can not be accomplished through a screen, and communicating online may have and unemotional, artificial quality. Secondly, people will judge you first on appearance. This one is obvious because if you have an exotic name and a beautiful picture on your profile, you are more likely to get a higher number of requests for people wanting to talk to you and meet up. Having met someone in person will immediately show you if you have chemistry and/or “click” with the person, versus online where you can not see facial expressions or reactions.

Studies show that you are more likely to meet a match through a friend rather than online. 63% of married couples meet their partner through a friend (eharmony 2018). Meeting a partner through a friend is generally a better method considering the friend knows each person individually and would know if their personalities will match or not. Also the ones going on the date will feel more comfortable with each other since they know their friend would never set them up with someone who could possibly be dangerous. Finding a match through a friend is a much more safe and easy alternative to the online dating world.

Online dating is harmful to society because it allows people to be deceptive, it’s often confusing and ineffective and for most, disheartening. People could present themselves to be a completely different person. Assessing a match without the basic fundamentals you get from face to face interactions such as touching (physical interaction) can make it hard to determine whether you are interested in this person or not. The rates are higher of people having successful relationships when they are introduced through a friend rather than online. All these factors are to be considered if you are thinking about joining the online dating world.

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