Study: Online Dating Sites Are Used Now More Than Ever

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Looking for love online? You’re not alone.

A study from the University of Rochester finds meeting a person online has surpassed all other forms of match making besides meeting someone through a mutual friend.

Although researchers admit that there are definite benefits to online matchmaking, they also say users should not place too much confidence in the sites claims to scientifically match people up, since no actual proof has been substantiated that this particular method works.

“Online dating is definitely a new and much needed twist on relationships,” said Harry Reis, one of the study’s researchers and psychology professor at University of Rochester. “The Internet holds great promise for helping adults form healthy and supportive romantic partnerships, and those relationships are one of the best predictors of emotional and physical health,” he said.

However, Reis is quick to point out that comparing hundreds of people profile’s to find a mate may lead to a “shopping” mentality, in which people become judgmental and focus too hard on a slim criteria such as looks, or basic interests.

Reis and his team created a 64 page analysis which reviewed more than 400 psychology studies and public interest surveys. They learned that 25 million people used the internet to make a romantic connection in 2011.

These findings are published in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest.

Source: TheCheckup.com