If it seems as if everyone has tried online dating, you’re not alone.
According to a Pew Research Center study, 11% of American adults—and 38% of those who are currently “single and looking”—have used online dating sites or mobile dating apps.
The general public’s attitude towards online dating has become much more positive in recent years. Now, with social networking sites playing a prominent role in romantic relationships, online dating usage is at an all-time high.
Why You Aren’t Truly Picking Your “Perfect Match”
To gain insight into what makes people tick when it comes to online dating, let’s explore some hidden truths.
A professor of Women’s Health and Clinical Epidemiology at Queen Mary University of London, Khalid Khan, analyzed 86 studies to figure out why he wasn’t lucky in love. What did he discover?
His dating profile was one of the main problems.
Is Your Profile Working for or Against You?
- Screen names matter – Users whose names start with letters toward the beginning of the alphabet receive more clicks. If your name starts with A-M, you have a better chance of being noticed.
- Color psychology is real – Women who wore red in their profile pictures attracted more attention from men compared to those wearing other colors.
- Group photos work – A group shot with friends increases your chances of getting profile views.
- People lie – Studies show that 95% of profiles contain exaggerations about salary, job, living conditions, hobbies, weight, body mass, and some even use fake pictures just to get attention.
The “Free Site” Trap
When you post on a free dating site, you may not be interacting with people who prioritize relationships.
According to Dr. John G. Kappa, PhD, author of Relationship Strategies: The E&P Attraction, we all have an equal and opposite compatible match. However, many people keep picking the wrong partners because they aren’t aware of what truly attracts them — or repels them.
Choice Overload – Are Too Many Options Ruining Your Chances?
There’s something called choice overload — where having too many options actually undermines your ability to make a good decision.
As a result, many people think they’ve picked the right partner, when in reality, they’ve chosen the wrong one.
Online Dating vs. Reality
If these dating sites truly worked, then why does it take 9-12 months to find someone who is supposedly your perfect match?
Finding a partner isn’t like shopping for a new car or a pair of jeans.
You can’t just wake up one morning, say to yourself, “I need a husband or wife,” and scroll through thousands of profiles until you find “The One.”
Love doesn’t work that way.
The Harsh Truth About Online Dating
If you haven’t been successful with dating offline, what makes you think you’ll suddenly become successful online?
New research suggests that while dating apps offer convenience and variety, they don’t necessarily improve your odds of finding a lifelong partner or a healthy long-term relationship.
At the end of the day, remember this:
They call it falling in love because you just fall — you don’t force yourself to trip.