(Online Dating Industry Journal) In preparation for Valentines Day, Love@AOL, in conjunction with Opinion Research Corporation, has released their second annual Dating Trends survey. According to the survey, 76% of singles nationwide who use online dating have met someone special and 58% of those admit that a match made through online dating has turned into a serious relationship that has lasted for several months to more than a year.
The Love@AOL service commissioned this national poll of over 4,000 unmarried men and women to look at how American singles date and relate, both online and off. The survey also looks at male and female perspectives on dating and Valentine's Day, and ranks the best and worst cities for dating.
The survey found that 16% of singles met their last date online, while more traditional meeting places like work (15%), bars and dance clubs (11%), school (8%) or coffee houses and bookstores (3%) were less common. The leading way to meet a date continues to be through friends and family, with 21% of singles saying that was how they met their last date. Also, many turn to online dating services to find a date at the last minute, 24% more than last year.
Singles participating in the survey listed the following as the biggest advantages to using an online dating services:
- Meeting someone with common interests (73% )
- Meeting someone who lives nearby (73%)
- Safe communication exchanges before meeting (66%)
- A lot of people to choose from (62%)
Survey Methodology
Survey results are based on 4,051 respondents, 18 years and older, who are single, in the top 20 markets around the country. The survey was conducted December 19-29, 2005 by Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of America Online.
