An Endless Array of Options; How the Internet is revolutionizing the ways we meet and mate

Abstract

Marriage rates are at a record low in the United States and there are currently more single people searching for partners than there have ever been at any point in our history. The Internet has revolutionized many aspects of our lives and it is increasingly playing a role in the formation of relationships. Much the way one looks for work online; shops for clothes, stays in contact with friends, or gathers information - one may now search online for a suitable romantic partner. Using a qualitative approach, this study seeks to explore the experiences of online dating site users through in-depth, in-person interviews with Internet daters between the ages of 25 to 45. My research explores the mechanisms involved in the users\u27 experiences of meeting potential partners from Internet dating sites. How do the many options the Internet provides (in terms of potential mates) affect the dating processes of Internet dating site users and how do they negotiate making choices about intimate partners when faced with a greater supply of potential mates? The majority of Internet dating site users interviewed reported experiencing some degree of choice overload although more ‘desirable\u27 users reported this effect more strongly