Older Singles Turning to Online Dating
Posted July 21, 2009 9:58 AM
More single senior Americans are looking for love online, experts say.
Online Dating Magazine editor Joe Tracy said the increase in seniors using their computers to find the right romantic partner follows increased marketing by online dating groups targeting the age demographic, The Washington Post reported Sunday.
"They're seeing their sons and daughters use online dating and have success with it," Tracy said. "And we've been seeing online dating services really target the senior citizens and baby-boomer market."
University of Washington sociologist Pepper Schwartz, who is studying relationships, said online dating services help expand seniors' potential dating prospects from local churches and senior centers.
Schwartz told the Post such additional dating options are vital to seniors' lives since their urge to find the perfect someone has not decreased with age.
"Neither love, nor romance, nor adventure are the private property of the young," she said.
Source: YellowBrix, United Press International
Comments (6)
Have something to say? Share your thoughts.
Posted August 5, 2009 11:20 PM
I have tried on line dating and have had some very positive and some negative experiences. I put a few pictures online to show the different sides of me. Some men have said "oh that picture looks more like the real you" where others have found other poses "more like the real you" We all have differences of opinion. I know who and what I am and I am enjoying getting to know different men although I am still expecting to find the man of my dreams. I must tell you I have used Eharmony and had some good experiences but I met a man from another state that only wanted to show up at a wedding with me on his arm. He was still in love with his ex-wife. I had a nice vacation and he was able to save face so we both got something out of the very short relationship. I have faith that God will bring the right man into my life at just the right time.
Posted July 29, 2009 5:41 PM
In response to the woman who complained about men:
I have never talked to or met so many deranged, whacked ot, nutsy, coo cco, crazy womaen in my life.
They lie about everything. I don't mind age, but I do mind photos of a pretty face and when you meet them they over weighy ang look nothing like their photos. Many women post photos of their daughters. Yes, I said their daughters. After talking to what I thought was a reasonably attractive woman, when I met her she weighed over 400 lbs. That is a true story.
Am I discouraged? No. Frustrated? Yes. But I'm not giving up..
Posted July 29, 2009 5:39 PM
The big problem I see with on line dating sites is that they want to auto-renew your membership. If I pay for a six month subscription and don't get reasonable matches, I don't want to renew for another 6 months. But, these sites just go ahead and renew my membership without my permission. It doesn't matter what my site settings are. I want to be given the option not to renew.
Speaking of eHarmony, I still get its newsletter and sometimes matches requesting communication. I am not a paying member right now; but, from past experiences, when a member requests communication and I go ahead and renew so that I can communicate, after a few exchanges, the member closes the communication.
Sometimes, it makes me think that the eHarmony member who is requesting communication is actually an employee who gets paid for getting members to renew their subscriptions.
Posted July 26, 2009 11:37 PM
Ok, so now how much is the writer being paid to sponsor e harmony??? on line dating is madness...not all sites are good and you have been lucky...most men on the site are the losers that we women would by pass in the regular forum...most have financial problems, emotional imbalances and most of all some are just on the sites to play games...I agree that after a certain age you run the risk of being lonely but too many older folks are getting burn and burned out by folks whose sole purpose is to mess with emotions for kicks...
Posted July 22, 2009 4:28 PM
I have been online dating for over five years. Some of the time I was seriously looking for a relationship and other times I was just having fun. At one point my children called the men I dated my 'flavor of the month.'
I have used many dating sites and met many interesting men both online, on the telephone and in person.
The longest relationship lasted over a year but I am looking again or at least thinking about looking.
Posted July 22, 2009 4:02 PM
While I never thought I would find myself "suddenly single" at age 54, when my 23-year marriage ended in 2007, a good friend gave me a 3-month subscription to eHarmony.com. After three months, I was not totally disenchanted, but I did wonder if there WAS someone out there who was what I was seeking in a mate. Lo and behold, on July 14, 2007 a match came up that seemed almost too good to be true!
That was two years ago...we are now engaged to be married and living the love both of us had always dreamed of in our respective long-term marriages that failed. The beauty of the on-line process was that neither of us had to go anywhere to try to meet someone...we long ago had grown weary of the "bar scene" and yet we were way too young for the Senior Center.
We probably sound like a commercial, but we swear by the eHarmony personality profile and matching system. Plus, it provides a safe way to get acquainted BEFORE meeting in person. My dad's widow was so impressed, she gave eHarmony a try, as well, and at the time of her last email, had met a man her age (they are both in their 70's) and it sounds like things are going quite well.
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