Looking for love online
p2p news / p2pnet: Online dating is hot in America, says a new study.
People are using the Net to help them find true love, but there are still widespread safety concerns, says the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
“Some 31% of American adults say they know someone who has used a dating website and 15% of American adults – about 30 million people – say they know someone who has been in a long-term relationship or married someone he or she met online,” says Online Dating, continuing:
“Yet, dating websites are just one of many online avenues that can facilitate a romantic connection. Three out of four internet users who are single and looking for a romantic partner have done at least one dating-related activity online – ranging from using dating websites, to searching for information about prospective dates, to flirting via email and instant messaging, to browsing for information about the local singles scene.”
Some 11% of all Net users and 37% of those who are single and looking say they’ve gone to dating web sites, says the report.
Most say they’ve had positive experiences and believe their use of such sites helps them to find a better match and, “A notable number of these online daters have found firsthand that lasting romance can be forged online; 17% of them say they have entered long-term relationships or married someone they met through the services.”
But although online dating is becoming more commonplace, “there are still concerns in the wider public about the dangers of posting personal information on dating sites and about the honesty of those who pursue online dating,” adds Pew.
