Online dating is perhaps one of the perfect examples of an industry surviving and thriving against all the odds. Almost everything about it is controversial yet its future is still so promising.
Yes, it is! And these figures from Pew Research Center’s recent study lends credence to those claims. And as criticism— both constructive and destructive— surround its atmosphere, you’ll be surprised how far America has come when it comes to internet dating.
For instance, many people in the US are still wary of the possible dangers of the idea of meeting a partner online. Still a significant percentage have used a dating platform or app. And many people (than you think) have found long-lasting love and potential lifelong partners from dating sites.
Find out the digits and more about online dating below.
- A whole 30 percent of US grownups have used online dating platforms compared to 11 percent in 2013.
- Of those who’ve tried online dating, 12 percent say they have found love and lifelong partners.
- Meanwhile, 37 percent of users said a person they met over the internet went on contacting them even after they said no or showed lack of interest.
Still, the industry must work to reduce some bad practices to protect online dating users. For instance, the study found:
- 35 percent stated they’ve received offensive photos or messages without their consent while.
- 27 percent were called with names they found offensive.
- Only 9 percent were admitted having received threats of physical harm or abuse.
Unsurprisingly, in all the above categories, females recorded much higher percentages than their male counterparts. Here are Pew’s figures for female vs male.
- 48 percent of females admitted continued contact or pursuit even after saying no, compared to 27 percent of males
- And while 46 percent of women received photos or messages without consent, only 26 percent of men did.
- 33 percent of females (compared to 22 percent of males) said they were called offensive names
- Lastly, only 11 percent of women received threats of physical abuse compared to 6 percent of males
And if a you’re young (in the internet dating world) then you’re hotcake. The digits these categories skyrocketed higher for people between ages 18 and 34. But your chances of getting spotted are even higher if you’re female.
For instance, an entire 60 percent of females (18 to 34) reported persistent contact from an online user even after saying no or showing lack of interest
The verdict
There are many perspectives to Pew’s findings but these two are non-debatable (1) online dating has shown significant potential in changing people’s lives, and can do better (2) But industry players including online dating merchant account owners and regulators must work to reduce harmful practices.
Author bio: Blair Thomas has been a music producer, bouncer, screenwriter and for over a decade has been the proud Co-Founder of eMerchantBroker, the highest rated online dating merchant account provider in the country. He has climbed in the Himalayas, survived a hurricane, and lived on a gold mine in the Yukon. He currently calls Thailand his home with a lifetime collection of his favorite books.