Online dating may not be your best bet for love

Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Internet, Science

Well it’s that time of the year again and that day that many people dread is approaching, and we aren't talking about the fact that it's tax season. Valentine's Day (or Single Awareness Day for many folks!) is in just a few days away, and you might be scrambling for a date. Like many now days, you might be turning to an online dating service, such as OKCupid or Match.com. But before you look there, you’ll be surprised as to what studies have found.

A few researchers from Northwestern University have found some rather depressing news as it pertains to those Internet dating sites that are all the rage. You know all those promises you hear about long-lasting relationships and matching you on compatibility? Well those are only mere marketing campaigns. Shocking, we know. You see, though the sites do match you and your potential partner, it’s not anywhere near to the extent that they claim. The study reposts that “developers of matching algorithms have tended to focus on the information that is easy for them to assess, like similarity in personality and attitudes, rather than the information that relationship science has found to be crucial for predicting long-term relationship well-being.” So, in essence, you can surf your Facebook friends that are single, match their likes with yours and have just about the same results.

Now don’t get us wrong, dating sites are great for those that have a busy schedule and may not have the opportunity to network outside of work. These sites provide a great opportunity to meet new people, some of which may be your potential significant other - but rather than investing all your hope in online dating sites, it's best to take their claims with a grain of salt. Or better yet, a salt lick.

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