ICYMI, The Entire Internet Is Now A Dating Site

Even if you’re not actively dating online, nowadays you don’t have to. From Spotify to Tumblr and every site in between, the whole internet is pretty much one big dating site. Before you freak out about technology ruining dating, just know it’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, there is such a thing as love at first click… maybe.

  1. The internet betters your chances. Logically, if you have a good chance of finding a partner in your current circle, that chance must increase the more you actively engage with online communities. Whether it’s through business networks like LinkedIn or via social media channels like Twitter, the bigger the pool, the better your chances are of finding your match. Make sense?
  2. Websites or stealthy matchmakers? This phenomenon isn’t limited to those that find love in the DMs on Instagram. People are also finding success after joining Facebook groups based on common interests, those who use online marketplaces for selling. Anyone who engages online is literally signing up to connect with people (and potential love interests). Sure, you don’t have to use these sites for the purpose of finding love, but they’re valuable resources if you do.
  3. It’s mostly unintentional, which kind of makes it more awesome. The memes are right—there’s a reason we don’t say ‘BRB’ anymore. It’s because we live here now! And in this virtual reality, running into old friends or connecting with new ones (even if you’re not planning to) is quite common. Add in social media and the ease of communication those networks provide and you’re effortlessly in contact with so many people. It’s unintentionally widening your social reach.
  4. We’re spoiled for choice in the digital world. Once you realize the whole internet is a dating site, you notice you can start chatting to someone anywhere at any time! Once you consider how many millions of people are actually online at any given time, that’s a lot of options! As long as you’re clear about what you looking for (and you’re not one of those people that experience choice paralysis when faced with too many options), this truly is game changer.
  5. It solves the supply challenge. With the rise of apps like Tinder, there are literally hundreds of potential dates just sitting in your phone. This means no one has to be at their local every weekend waiting for the same old guys to hit on them. You can swipe away at any time of day and still have the potential of finding someone, which is pretty great.
  6. Literally everyone’s on the internet. Not everyone uses dating apps, but pretty much everyone has WiFi. According to new research, online dating is the most common way people meet their partners these days, which isn’t exactly surprising. Whether it’s through specific dating websites (19%) or social media (2%), more and more online connections are turning into real life relationships.
  7. Meeting your partner online has lost its stigma. Online dating is no longer something people are ashamed to talk about or admit to. In a 2015 survey, 59% of participants said that online dating was a good way to meet people; 41% knew someone who had dated online and 15% had tried online dating themselves. That number is likely way higher these few years later, so what are you waiting for?
  8. Internet love stories are real. It’s undeniable—the number of internet love stories are growing. In fact, there are whole pages and accounts dedicated to this sort of thing! “Ten years ago only 3% of relationships began online,” says Match Group CEO Mandy Ginsberg. “Today, it’s closer to 30%.” I don’t imagine it’ll be too much longer before that number doubles or even triples.
  9. It’s still important not to forget about the real world. While it’s easy to be swept up in the internet as a sea of potential “One”s, it’s still important to live outside of cyberspace. “Don’t get addicted to the porridge pot of infinite possibilities offered by the internet,” advises relationship counsellor Barbara Bloomfield. “Get new experiences and go to new places. Challenge yourself to do one slightly adventurous thing per week. Think creatively about your interests and you will start to meet a new set of people.” Sounds like pretty good advice to me.
Adrianna is a twenty-something-year-old writer, who is never seen wandering the streets of Sydney sans coffee in hand. A self-confessed sugar addict, she is a lover of sweet treats, sweet words and even sweeter fashion finds. When she isn't hitting the gym or buried in a horror film of some sort, you'll definitely find her on Instagram at @adri_zapp.
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