Online dating has grown significantly since the launch of Match.com in 1995. It is now a billion dollar industry with over 30 million North Americans using online dating sites. 1 in 5 new relationships now start online, showing how mainstream online dating has become. While online dating allows for more efficient screening of potential partners outside one's local area, there are also disadvantages like scammers, privacy concerns, and stigma still associated with online dating. However, its popularity continues to grow with 17% of newlyweds meeting online.

1. By: Scott O´Brien “Right Here Waiting” by WolfSoul (Flickr)

2. Since the creation of the internet, people have used it
to connect with one another
“Free Internet” by hobvias (Flickr)

3. In 1995, match.com was launched, which was
instrumental in creating the online dating
revolution.
“Macintosh Plus” by Stefan Schlautmann (Flickr)

4. Internet dating has grown a lot since then, and
Match.com now has over 2.8 million paid subscribers
“Match.com” by Martin Ringelin (Flickr)

5. An estimated 30 to 40 million North Americans
now use online dating sites.
“Contacts in North America” by color line (Flickr)

6. In fact, today there are 1,500 sites that comprise an
industry worth over $1.5 billion
“Square.com” by Daniel Gilles (Flickr)

7. As online dating continues to evolve, innovative
dating services such as Tinder take a new spin on
traditional dating techniques
“Cupidtino” by Photo Giddy (Flickr)

8. Recently, more and more young singles have began to
look to the internet in order to find suitable matches
“Techno Teenagers” by Len Matthews (Flickr)

9. Today, 1 in 5 new relationships were started
on an online dating website
“Last Date” by aBbYhaLO (Flickr)

10. Online dating is a great way to save time by
allowing you to “screen out” the people you
are not interested in, based on their info
“Prohibited Google Glass” by M.A. Cabrera Luengo

11. You can also meet people outside of your
geographic area and social circle
“Multicultural Crayons” by Nathan Gibbs (Flickr)

12. Meeting lots of different people also allows you to
find out what you are looking for in a partner
“Standing out from the crowd” by Marina del Castell (Flickr)

13. However, there are some disadvantages of online
dating as well, including scammers and bullies
“Bullying-739607” by Pimkie (Flickr)

14. 1 in 12 users of social media sites have claimed to
have been the victims of online abuse
“Bullying” by Daniele Zanni (Flickr)

15. People are also known to lie about several of their
personal traits, including height, income, and
especially age
“Income Tax” by Alan Cleaver (Flickr)

16. There is also a negative stigma that is associated
with the practice of online dating. In 2013, 21% of
internet users felt that people who used online
“Desperate Housewife” by Rob. (Flickr)

17. It can also be difficult to tell how serious your
potential partner wants to be. Many online
daters exhibit “window shopping” mentalities
“Window Mannequins” by Tim Noonan (Flickr)

18. There also is privacy concerns with sharing
sensitive information about yourself over the
internet
“Privacy” by Frederic Poirot (Flickr)

19. Still, 17% of newlyweds last year met online,
and that number will continue to increase
“Newlyweds” by Sean Davis (Flickr)

20. Although it is important to be careful, online dating is
continuing to grow and will a major trend in the future
“Buddies” by shaundon (Flickr)

21. THE END
“Hotter Online” by Cali4beach (Flickr)

22. Bibliography
 Koester, S. (2014, Jan). Disadvantages of Online Dating.
Retrieved May 2014, from Global Post:
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/disadvantages-online-dating-
6253.html
 Palmer, G. (2014). 10 Pros & Cons of Online Dating. Retrieved
May 2014, from Your Tango:
http://www.yourtango.com/experts/mrs-grace-pamer/10-ways-
internet-has-changed-dating-scene-expert/page/2
 PEW Research. (2013, May). Attitudes Toward Online Dating.
Retrieved May 2014, from PEW Research Center:
http://www.pewresearch.org/files/2014/02/FT_online-dating-
attitudes.png
 Romance Reality Check. (2011, November). Statistics.
Retrieved May 2014, from Romance Reality Check:
http://www.romancerealitycheck.com/stats.htm
 Statistic Brain. (2014, January). Online Dating Statistics.
Retrieved May 2014, from Statistic Brain:
http://www.statisticbrain.com/online-dating-statistics/