Online dating has become a common way for many Americans to find potential romantic partners. While some people emphasize the convenience and efficiency of these sites, others express concerns about their impact on relationships. This new survey reveals that most people who have used dating sites and apps express mixed views of their experiences on these platforms.
Regardless of why someone chooses to date online, they may encounter various stigmas that can make it difficult for them to communicate openly with their partners. One common challenge is finding the right balance between being specific about what they’re looking for in a partner, and not inadvertently ruling out a potential match. Helen Gaitanis, 35, a Los Angeles single who uses the site Match, for example, only searches for men between 33 and 43 with blue eyes—but she refrains from filtering out brown eyes because of her strong preference for blue. She says that her strategy helps her avoid “blind dates.”
Another obstacle is the stigma that can come with using dating websites and apps. Some people worry that their use of such platforms makes them appear desperate or dishonest, while others fear being subject to unscrupulous behavior or harassment. A significant share of online daters say that people who use these sites and apps often lie about their appearance, interests or other characteristics. Some also believe that it’s very or somewhat common for people to cheat on others on these platforms.
While these obstacles can be challenging, the majority of people who have used online dating sites and apps report a positive experience. In fact, nearly half of all online daters (49%) say that they found it very or somewhat easy to find people on these platforms that they were physically attracted to or who shared their interests or seemed like a person they would want to meet in person. Furthermore, a substantial share of online daters believe that relationships between couples who met on dating sites or apps are no less successful than those between couples who met in person.
The experience of online dating varies by demographic group, with younger adults and those who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) being more likely than others to have used such platforms. Some 12% of adult Americans say they have married or entered into a committed relationship with someone they met on a dating website or app. These findings are based on a nationally representative survey conducted online Oct. 16 to 28, 2019, among 4,860 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, using the Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel. The margin of error is +/- 3.6 percentage points. For more information about the methodology of this survey, see the Methods section of the full report. This article was originally published on Oct. 27, 2019 at 11:50 a.m. and has since been updated. 2019 Pew Research Center. All rights reserved. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
