The Pros and Cons of Online Dating

Single Parent Dating

You’ve probably heard it a couples of times in the past: a friend was able to meet the man of her dreams via the internet, or another acquaintance just can’t have enough of this charming cutie who is apparently living in another continent. Yes, this is indeed the modern age and virtually everything is already possible given the power of the internet. Are you looking for a romantic, personal or even sexual relationship? For some people, online dating websites are the answer.

Simply put, online dating is a way for individuals to be able to connect to others regardless of the distance. Thanks to a computer, a stable internet connection and an attractive dating profile, you are only a connection away from meeting someone with similar interests and desires.

Despite its great promise though, online dating does have its dark side; the media has done a thorough job of featuring a lot of stories which show various scenarios of online dating gone wrong. Also, despite the growing acceptance of online dating, a small amount of stigma still exists—some individuals still harbor the(mistaken) impression that online dating is for the desperate. This article attempts to examine the various pros and cons of online dating.

The Benefits

There is always a room for the hopeful and hopeless romantics. There are always going to be some people out there who are betting that luck and a little perseverance is the key to meeting their perfect match online. While people may be cynical about the concept of virtual dating, a lot of people do attest to finding love via the net.

It’s free to start—if you don’t like what you are getting, simply cancel your subscription and walk away. You need not pay anything if you wish to test the waters. There are free dating sites to keep you started and as for those which need you to be subscribed, there are trial versions.

A user has the privilege to dish out what he wants. In case you don’t want some personal information to show up in your profile, you are definitely not required to disclose it. These precautions have greatly improved the safety of online dating.

The Downside

Online Dating has been accused of being exploitative. As online dating sites require a membership fee, some construes this as having to pay for the privilege of dating.

There are many gory pictures in the internet that show people (especially women) attacked and brutally killed as a result of some connections made through online dating services. Online predators that stalk or engage in sexual violence and fraud are still fairly common, although several actions have already been made to curb their existence.

Some dating websites have been notoriously reported as under-reporting the actual number of their subscribers, especially with regards to gender distribution. This means that the actual chance of a user to meet someone is sometimes overrated by the said sites.

A sea of white lies is expected in dating sites. Simply, a lot of users do not really tell the truth about their height, age and other basic information. White lies may be fine, but gross misrepresentation is something you do not want to encounter yourself.

As of 2008, statistics showed that in the United States alone, close to $960 million have been generated because of services such as online dating, and the trend continues as the industry is becoming even more profitable. It is then up to the individuals concerned whether they will take advantage of the benefits or sulk at the risks involved. When it comes to dating though, remember that each person is ultimately responsible for exercising good judgment and being discriminating in making connections—whether online or offline.

The author is a freelance writer. He writes about fax comparisons and online faxing services.

The Pros and Cons of Online Dating by
Rating: 5.0/5. From 1 vote.
Please wait...