I’m sure you know what with a large presence of smart phones and social media websites that online dating has increased over the years. However what you may not know is how our attitudes have changed due to the affect of online dating. These are among the key findings of a national survey of dating and relationships in the digital era, the first dedicated study of this subject by the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project since 2005.
The Major Difference between Online Dating Sites and Mobile Dating Apps:
- 11% of Internet users (representing 9% of all adults) say that they have personally used on online dating site such as Match.com, eHarmony, or OK Cupid.
- 7% of cell phone apps users (representing only 3% of all adults) say that they have used a dating app on their cell phone. Cell phone app users are more likely to be teenagers to young adults since growing up in a booming technology era.
Six years ago, in 2008 just 3% of all Americans said that they had used an online dating site. In just one year in 2009 that figure doubled to 6% of all Americans. Today, 9% of the adult population has used an online dating site.
Who is the Typical Online Dater?
Demographics wise, online dating is attracting a younger crowed than past years. It is most prevalent among Americans in their mid-20’s. Some 22% of 25-34 year olds, and 17% of 35-44 year olds are online daters—that is roughly double the rate for those ages 18-24 or those ages 45-54. Urban and suburban residents are more likely than rural residents to use online dating, and those who have attended college are around twice as likely to do so as are those who have not attended college.
How Social Media & Smartphones have affected Offline Dating & Relationships:
In 2005 when PEW first began their study on how technology affects dating and relationships, smart phones such as the IPhone were not yet accessible and popular social media sites (SM) such as Facebook were just beginning to tap into the college market. Just one in ten online adults used social networking sites of any kind. Today six out of every ten Americans use social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter, and more than half are smartphone owners.
Young Adults Utilizing Social Media to Check Up on Past Relationships:
Social media has become widely used and geared towards checking in on past relationships, One third (31%) of all SM users have gone on these sites to check up on someone they used to date or be in a relationship with. 17% have posted pictures or other details from a date on a social networking site.
Younger adults are particularly likely to have done both of these activities compared with older adults. Some 48% of SNS users ages 18-29 have used these sites to check up on someone they dated in the past, and 31% have posted details or pictures from a date. Otherwise there are few demographic differences when it comes to either of these behaviors.
Why Social Media Sites are a Transition into Dating Sites:
Nearly one third (30%) of SM users with recent dating experience have used a social networking site to get more information about someone they were interested in dating.
Social media sites also offer an additional venue for meeting or being introduced to “friends of friends.” Some 12% of SM users with recent dating experience have ‘friended’ or ‘followed’ someone on a social networking site specifically because one of their friends suggested they might want to date that person.
Females tend to have more of a Negative Experience with Social Media used in Dating and Relationship:
Young adults especially women tend to have greater exposure than men to some negative aspects of dating in the social networking era. Female social media users are significantly more likely than males to have blocked or unfriended someone who was flirting in a way that made them feel uncomfortable (33% of female SM users have done this, compared with 19% of men), although women and men are equally likely to have unfriended a past flame, or to have untagged or deleted photos from a past relationship.
Check Out More Here: http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/10/21/online-dating-relationships/
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