Online Dating vs. Traditional Dating, Essay Example

Introduction

Many people today still believe in “love at first sight”. Men and women around the world fall in love with each other after meeting in person. However, some struggle to find somebody who would tick all the boxes and be a long term reliable partner. These individuals now have a tool claiming to match people on scientific basis. Online dating is similar to an internet shop: one logs on, looks around, chooses what they like, and makes a bid. There are some advantages and disadvantages of online and traditional dating, as well. The below essay will focus on the differences between the above described dating methods.

Traditional dating is spontaneous, and online dating is a conscious act. Those who believe in physical and emotional attraction and have time for socializing are likely to choose traditional dating. They can see the person they are making a vote on, and decide whether or not they are attracted to them. Traditional dating can also occur at events, workplaces, or school, and it brings forward several benefits, such as knowing about the person beforehand, seeing their behavior in social situations, and knowing how they speak, behave, or dress.

Online dating is for people with fewer social connections, while traditional dating is for those who want to experience “love at first sight”. For many people, choosing a person with the same interest is extremely important, therefore, they seek new acquaintances in their regular environment. Those who attend sports events might become attracted to someone from another group of fans, or people who are keen on photography might find their perfect match at an exhibition. There is already one point of connection, and the two people will have something to start the conversation with. They will have one common interest already, and can decide immediately whether or not they would like to get to know each other more.

Online dating is riskier than traditional dating. Online dating, however, is similar to “dating in the dark”. As people can put anything on their profile they like, and no information is checked, one needs to be careful meeting someone online. It is also likely that people looking to date others online will put on the most appealing pictures on their profile, or old photos that do not even resemble how they look like today. As there are no shared friends and acquaintances, it is hard to check the information a user puts online about themselves. While some online dating sites allow members to put on videos, the person looking for a date will only know how the other individual acts like when they meet.

Main Differences and Conclusion

Traditional dating is simpler for people who have a social life and are likely to meet loads of people. Online dating, on the other hand, is designed for men and women who have a clear idea what they are looking for. While many authors state that love has nothing to do with rational decisions, the main benefit of online dating is that the member of the site can filter users based on age, occupation, height, body type, marital status, the number of children, and many more characteristics. Online dating is, therefore, for people who would like to choose a partner for long term and believe that they know what they are looking for in a man or woman. Traditional dating, on the other hand, has the benefit of being more reliable when it comes to the information provided before the first date, and more likely to be built on mutual attraction.