Let’s face it – the Internet has infiltrated our lives. It’s the first place many of us go to do our shopping, our banking, our research, and even our socializing. When we sign on to the Internet, we get the information we need just by clicking a few buttons. When you consider the ease and the convenience of the Internet, it’s really no surprise that online dating has become such a success.
The Benefits of Online Dating
Online dating is a quick and easy way to meet a lot of people from all over the world, people you wouldn’t normally meet with traditional dating where you’re pretty much confined to dating others from within a particular geographic location.
Online dating is fairly safe, too. You don’t have to agree to meet someone you’ve met online until you are ready. And if you’re never ready, that’s okay too. You can stop communicating with someone any time you’re feeling uncomfortable.
Online dating is relatively inexpensive compared to traditional dating. When you’re dating ‘online’ it’s not necessary to spend money on a new outfit or an expensive dinner. However, once you find someone you want to meet ‘in person’ and you begin dating in the traditional manner, this will definitely change!
Corresponding with prospective mates, which in traditional dating is better known as the ‘getting to know each other stage’ happens in the comfort of your own home, in the comfort of your pajamas if you choose.
The pressure to make a great first impression is off when you date online and for many people, that’s quite a stress-reliever.
And most importantly, free time is at a premium. People are tired of the traditional dating scene and all the head games and the rejection that go along with it. When people sign up for online dating, there generally is no mistaking what they are looking for.
Relationships begin online and they end online, but online, putting an end to one (and handling rejection when it happens) is much easier!
The Potential Pitfalls of Online Dating
Online dating does have its issues and anyone thinking about dating this way needs to be aware of what they are. Most importantly is the fact that not everyone is who he or she claims to be.
It’s easy to create an identity online which makes it difficult to confirm what you’re being told.
And because it’s impossible to really know who you’re dealing with, it’s never a good idea to give out personal information, even if you’ve been communicating for a long time.
Another potential pitfall is that many online dating websites allow their members to post photographs and with all the photo enhancing technologies available today, there really is no way of knowing whether the photo you’re looking at is a true representation of the person you’re communicating with. That can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how much value you place on looks.