(Online Dating Industry Journal) The latest GMIPoll (powered by Global Market Insite, Inc.) reveals some of the positives and the pitfalls of online dating, proving that Internet dating is now part of the mainstream. The global survey of 17,500 consumers in 18 countries reveals that 10% of those polled have found a long-term partner through Internet dating sites.
When compared to other countries, singles in Britain seem to be somewhat reluctant Internet daters. Only 5% of Britons have married as a result of the Internet, 14% have had a casual sexual relationship and only 14% have had a serious or long-term relationship. These results are lower than the global average.
The nationalities most likely to date online are the Brazilians, Germans and Americans (10%), while the Dutch, French, Spanish and Danes (4%) are the least likely.
The poll results also indicate that 54% of respondents believe that having an online relationship is cheating on their significant other, this increases to 58% in the UK, while 24% of respondents said categorically that an online relationship was not cheating.
The survey also looked at the subjects of casual sex and dishonesty in online dating. While 18% of respondents claim they used the Internet for casual sex, a very small percent – 4% – say that they go online looking just for sex rather than any kind of relationship. When asked, 78% of UK consumers agreed that people lie about themselves online while 17% of Britons admitted to having cheated on a significant other via an online dating site or the web.
Based on the poll, the number one reason why people use online dating sites is to ‘find friends or meet people’ and that those that use online dating services are reasonably happy with their Internet dating service. In fact, 36% of all respondents polled said their Internet date was “somewhat successful” while 11% said it was extremely successful. The story is a bit different when looking at Americans and their online dating success. Americans seem to be the most dissatisfied with online dating, with 21% of polled respondents no longer using online dating after they had participated in the past.
“Not only does this poll tell us the extent of infidelity, but also that Americans seem to have such high expectations for online dating services," said Allyson Stewart-Allen, director of International Marketing Partners Ltd. "The fact that more people use online dating services than in the past, presents marketers with opportunities that are double-edged. You reach people who are actively seeking for relationships, but you may not get them involved in a relationship with your brand."
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