Digital Dating

If love isn’t in the air this Valentine’s Day perhaps it’s over the internet. In today’s society online dating has become common place and almost all of us have tried it; although few like to admit to it.

In today’s culture of systematic commotion and need for instant gratification it makes sense that we would avoid the more traditional avenues for meeting someone; in line at the grocery store, at work, church socials or happy hour. Who has the time these days to engage in countless minutes of idol chatter to only determine later that your goals and perspectives about relationships are not in sync? Internet dating websites allow you to virtually meet many people in a matter of minutes and your search criteria accelerates the ability to weed out the "undesirables."

There are; however, some shortcomings of virtual dating. Chat rooms and instant messaging don’t provide that personal exchange, and as we all know, facial expressions and body language tell a more accurate story than Arial text. The next trend in online dating will make the experience even more convenient through the use of webcams. Here you can have an online commercial about yourself or engage in a webcam chat. How romantic!

Despite the esoteric nature of online dating, studies show the trend is very popular. We have seen a surge in the number of services over the years, from mainstream sites like eHarmony and Match.com to PlentyofFish, eCrush and Mate1. If you would like to learn more about this phenomenon before you give it a try or if you’re a seasoned online dater and need some tips, visit the Online Dating Magazine, an internet publication dedicated to in-depth coverage of the online dating services industry and dating tips for those who date online.

Who would of thought 20 years ago that finding love would require a DSL connection? Thanks to the internet, we can multi-task efficiently and pay our bills online, check our email, go shopping, trade stock and fall in love all at the same time. Who knows…in the future we may even be able to get married online. Keep your heart and minds open and as always… stay connected!