Photo by Por mi tripa on Flickr Created by Jaimie Laing

Over the past several years,

Photo by mikebaird on Flickr

the persona of online dating and using

algorithms to calculate true love has

changed to a more positive way to meet your life partner.

Source: Zytko, DouglasPhoto by CAFNR on Flickr

smartphone apps such as Tinder, OKCupid, eHarmony, Grinder, and POF, allow people to….

Today,

...match with a compatible partner,

Photo by {AndreaRenee} on Flickr

communicate online...

Source: Zytko, Douglas

...and meet in person.

Photo by Dmahendra on Flickr Source: Zytko, Douglas

Photo by zumito on Flickr

What are the odds you’ll find your life partner online?

Photo by desertdutchman on Flickr

There are over 91 million people around the world using

dating apps between the ages

of16 to 34.

Source: Seal, Kelly

Photo by seanmcgrath on Flickr Source: Bilton, Nick

Over the past two years,

Tinder alone has been able to

match over 12 million users.

Photo by netzanette on Flickr Source: Smith, Arron and Maeve Duggan

And 66% of the users

have been on at least one date with someone they

met online.

Photo by Instant Vantage on Flickr

Some people believe that online relationships

do not lead to real life dating,

but they couldn’t be more wrong!

Source: Hardy, Marcelina

Photo by gazzat on Flickr Sources: Zytko, Douglas

1/3 of married couples met online and...

Photo by Anne Marthe Widvey on Flickr Source: Daily Mail Reporter

....within 20 years researchers expect this number to increase

to 1/2.

Photo by martinak15 on Flickr

“Researchers also found that 5.96% of

online married couples they surveyed requested a divorce, compared to

7.67% that met offline.”

Source: Larry Magid

~ Larry Magid

This shows that people around the world are not only finding love online, but they are also

maintaining it.

Photo by seanmcgrath on Flickr

Photo by HarryetN on Flickr Source: Wortham, Jenna

“Tech entrepreneurs have been shifting their

~ Jenna Wortham

attention to people

after they meet a mate.”

Photo by iklash/ on Flickr Source: Knightstep, Jennifer

Apps such as Skype, Avocado, Couple, SnapChat, Bliss, and Facetime allow online couples to maintain their relationships.

“Smartphone applications and services help to

collapse time and

space to talk to each

other in real time.”

Photo by thronx on Flickr Source: Wortham, Jenna

~ Jenna Wortham

Photo by jenny downing on Flickr Source: Greer, Melissa

“Long distance couples have stronger bonds because they are able to have more constant and meaningful conversations.”

~ Melissa Greer

Photo by Ed Yourdon on Flickr Source: Nguyen, Liem

Although couples can communicate online, they still face problems that apps cannot fix, such as jealousy and a lack of trust.

But a big problem that online couples face is...

…scheduling time to talk due to separate time zones.

Photo by Faugel on Flickr Source: Wortham, Jenna

Photo by Jozi Duarte on Flickr Source: Can I Find My True Soulmate Online?

With the rise in technology and dating services, more people are

turning to the web to find a soulmate.

Photo by Spenser Marie on Flikr

Who knows, maybe online dating could help you find Mr. or Mrs. Right!

Source: Poulter, Sean

References

Chayka, Kyle. The New, Improved Online Friendship. New York Magazine. 2012. Web. 7 June. 2015. <http://nymag.com/next/2015/03/new-improved-online-friendship.html>

Can I Find My True Soulmate Online? Keen. Web. 6 June. 2015..http://www.keen.com/articles/love/can-i-find-my-true-soulmate-online >

Bilton, Nick. Tinder, the Fast-Growing Dating App, Taps an Age-Old Truth. Fashion & Style. 11 Oct. 2014. Web. 8 June. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/fashion/tinder-the-fast-growing-dating-app-taps-an-age-old-truth.html?_r=0>

Greer, Melissa. Are long-distance relationships better? Best Health. Mar. 2014. Web. 8 June. 2015.<< <http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/relationships/are-long-distance-relationships-better#i1GYeLkFyurYlfz0.97 >

Hardy, Marcelina. Why Online Dating Doesn’t Work. LovetoKnow. < http://dating.lovetoknow.com/Why_Online_Dating_Doesn't_Work

Magid, Larry. A Third of Recently Married Couples Met Online and They’re More Satisfied and Less Likely To Split Up. Forbes. 6 Mar. 2013. Web. 8 June. 2015. http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrymagid/2013/06/03/a-third-of-recently-married-couples-met-online-and-theyre-more-satisfied-and-less-likely-to-split-up / >

Nguyen, Liem. 5 Long Distance Relationship Problems that Most Couples Have to Face. I Love My LSI. 24 May. 2015. Web. 6 June. 2015. <http://ilovemylsi.com/5-long-distance-relationship-problems-that-most-couples-have-to-face/ > Poulter, Sean. Online dating can help you find your perfect partner, research shows. MailOnline. 25 Feb. 2009. Web. 8 June. 2015.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1144129/Online-dating-CAN-help-perfect-partner-research-shows.html

Seal, Kelly. New Report on Dating App Trends Reveals Some Surprises. Dating Sites Reviews. 11 Mar. 2015. Web. 7 June. 2015.< http://www.datingsitesreviews.com/article.php?story=new-report-on-dating-app-trends-reveals-some-surprises >

Smith, Arron, and Maeve Duggan. Online Dating & Relationships. Pew Research Center. 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 9 June. 2015.<http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/10/21/online-dating-relationships/ >

Wortham, Jenna. I Had a Nice Time Tonight With You, On The App. Bits. 15 April. 2014. Web. 8 June. 2015. < http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/05/i-had-a-nice-time-with-you-tonight-on-the-app/ >

Zytko, Douglas. Impression Management Through Communication in Online Dating. New Jersey Institute of Technology. 15 Feb. 2014. Web. 7 June. 2015. < http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2556487&dl=ACM&coll=DL&CFID=682200559&CFTOKEN=27421442 >