Does Online Dating Work?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2001
Does Online Dating Work?
7
Tue, 08-04-2009 - 4:42am

I'm just curious what others think about the success rate of online dating.

Avatar for floridagirl52
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2006
Tue, 08-04-2009 - 6:46am

Well, I'm hoping OLD will be successful for me, LOL! Unlike you, I don't tend to meet many men in real life.

I had become very turned off to OLD, but after reading these message boards, I have learned that lots of people find relationships this way, so I've been online again for a year and a half. I also think OLD is very useful for the over-35 crowd. I think it's easier to meet men when you're in your 20s, but it has gotten much harder for me as I've gotten older.

I don't know if OLD "works" most of the time or not. It works in that you will meet men and go on dates. But I don't know any statistics for how many people get married as a result of OLD. I don't personally know anyone who got married as a result, but I know people who know people who did.

You might want to check out the Online Dating board.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-29-2009
Tue, 08-04-2009 - 9:28am
Well, Miss Florida, I'm going to say that YES, online dating works!
Avatar for khatru1
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2004
Thu, 08-06-2009 - 12:58pm

I have had success on OLD for the most part. I think its the best tool for the older crowd as the other person said. Many people do not have opportunities to meet people in their daily lives. It's a great way to at least narrow down your choices based on what people like and what they enjoy doing. It is also great to open up your choices to your entire dating area and so cast the biggest net. Of course with the ease of communicating with so many people, comes more opportunity for letdowns and disappointments. You can get hit with multiple letdowns in a short period of time and it can leave you feeling bleh.

As far as the success rate of OLD versus the standard way, I have no idea which is more successful. I would have to think for the older crowd it has got to be more successful than regular dating. Those people have a bigger tendency to stay home, and not go out as much and therefore their chances have got to be much less.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-30-2006
Thu, 08-06-2009 - 7:51pm

i have tried both eharmony and match for a couple years now. i have had no luck. maybe i am picky or maybe i'm not being open-minded enough. with eharmony i never met anyone in person. there just wasn't a mach that interested me enough. with match, i've met quite a few guys...some nice, some jerks and nothing long-term. i'm currently on it and am dating someone.

here is the frustrating thing with OLD. you meet someone, you like them, but they're always "active within the last 24 hours." maybe i'm picking the wrong guys...who knows. like the current guy, i like him and i think he likes me but know really knows. it's only been a month so i guess it's kinda too soon to bring up the what are we and where are we headed talk. i feel like half the guys on OLD sites are either just looking to hook up and the other half don't really stir up my interest. i have friends that it's worked for and they are happily married. i guess it just depends on what you're looking for and how you look at it. good luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-29-2006
Fri, 08-07-2009 - 4:52pm

I haven't tried it myself, but I have many happily married friends who met their spouses through online dating. Here are some links you may find useful:


Online Dating


Cyberflirt: 6 Do's and Don'ts of Email Courtship


Online Daters Beware!


Finding a Great Guy Online: An Insider's Guide

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2009
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 5:08pm

Does online dating work?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2009
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 12:25pm
Wow...that was really informative. I'm not looking to find someone to date online yet but when I do, I totally want to read your post again :)