RESEARCH | Mysite 1

THE RESEARCH

TheStudies

A range of studies were selected to examine online dating & its perceptions as a whole. These studies range in demographics, content, and time of publication in order to attempt to get an accurate assessment of online dating regarding its current functions in society.

WHO USES ONLINE DATING?

Researchers Madden and Lenhart broke down the online dating demographic into percentages in a study conducted in 2006.

According to the study...

18%

of all online adults between

18-29 years old

have used dating websites

11%

of all online adults between

30-49 years old

have used dating websites

9%

of all online adults

50+ years old

have used dating websites

Additionally...

In a slightly newer 2008 study, Researchers Rosen, L. D., Cheever, N. A., Cummings, C., & Felt, J. found that 69% of people looking to date are either actively using online dating, or know of someone who is. This suggests that online dating is relatively popular among single people as of 2008, and it is becoming even more increasingly so compared to the above literature conducted just two years prior.

WHAT ARE USERS' PRIMARY MOTIVATIONS?

Research shows that there are several motivations for using online dating spanning from finding love in a larger pool of people, searching for casual relationships, or self-validation. There is also evidence that those using online dating may value certain attributes over others.

The following studies outline the most prominent motivations as well as attributes:

In a study conducted in 2017, Researchers Sumter, S. R., Vandenbosch, L., & Ligtenberg, L. surveyed 163 Dutch adults between the ages of 18-30 on their experiences with the popular dating app, Tinder. They found that over half of the participants have or currently did use the app, and they had six primary motivations for doing so, which varied by age. The motivations are: Love, Casual Sex, Ease of Communication, Self-Worth Validation, Thrill of Excitement, and Trendiness.

Additionally, male Tinder users showed a higher motivation for casual sex than female users. This is consistent with other research findings about men’s higher permissive attitudes towards casual sex in general and their higher use of the internet to look for potential sex partners.

(Presented by Researchers Petersen & Hyde, and Researchers Baumgartner, Valkenburg & Peter, respectively)

SO WHAT ARE THE PERCEPTIONS SURROUNDING ONLINE DATING?

For some people, the fact that they met their significant other on an online dating website or app is not something that they openly share with others. What is this perceived shamefulness about using online dating, and it is a common reality or a myth?

less than

30%

of internet users harbored the belief that online daters are "desperate." Additionally, the percentage of users who did so fell to just 20% when the analyses was narrowed to Internet users who were single and looking.

(Madden and Lenhart)

Among those who actively engage in online dating,

the perceived stigma associated with online dating may be considerably low!

(Stephure, R. J., Boon, S. D., MacKinnon, S. L., & Deveau, V. L.)