Internet dating much more successful than thought

[me]

Internet dating is proving a much more successful way to find long-term romance and friendship for thousands of people than was previously thought, new research shows.

 

A new study of online dating site members has found that when couples who had built up a significant relationship by e-mailing or chatting online met for the first time, 94 per cent went on to see each other again.

 

Perhaps surprisingly, the study, by Dr Jeff Gavin, of the University of Bath, also found that men were more emotionally dependent on their 'e-partners' than women, and more committed to the relationship.

 

Old-fashioned romance isn't dead, however: among the survey's findings were that exchanging gifts was the best way to ensure commitment in the relationship.

 

Dr Gavin's research comes at a time when the numbers using internet dating agencies have steadily increased: around six million Britons are now believed to have signed up.

 

Dr Gavin, with Dr Adrian Scott of the University of Bath and Dr Jill Duffield of the University of the West of England, carried out an online survey of 229 people, aged 18 to 65, who have used UK internet dating sites, asking them about their main relationship that they had had online. Dr Gavin's paper will be read at an international psychology conference next month.

 

The research showed that:

 

 

94 per cent of those surveyed saw their 'e-partner' again after first meeting them, and the relationships lasted for an average of at least seven months, with 18 per cent of them lasting over a year.

 

men online were significantly more likely to be committed to the relationship than women and were more dependent on their 'e-partner'.

 

the more the couple engaged in simultaneous online chat before meeting rather than simply e-mailing one another, the more they were found to depend on one another emotionally and the more they understood one another.

 

those who exchanged gifts before meeting had a more committed and deeper relationship.

 

the more the couple talked on the telephone before they met, the deeper the relationship.

Dr Gavin, of the University of Bath's Psychology Department, and his co-authors, found that people using the internet rarely used webcams, which allow computer users to see one another, because they preferred the greater anonymity of writing and using the telephone.

 

"This study shows that online dating can work for many people, leading to a successful meeting for almost everyone we surveyed," said Dr Gavin.

 

"Given that the most successful relationships lasted at least seven months, and in some case over a year, it seems that these relationships have a similar level of success as ones formed in more conventional ways.

 

"We found that men tend to be more committed to the online relationships than women, possibly because the anonymity of writing gives them a chance to express their emotions more readily than in real life.

 

"We also found that people are shying away from using webcams because they feel it's important not see their partners for some time – there is something special about text-based relationships."

 

Dr Gavin believes that the reason that using the telephone and online chatting indicates a deeper relationship is that these are methods of simultaneous communication, whereas e-mails are more formal.

 

Of the relationships, 39 per cent were still going on at the time of the survey, and of these 24 per cent had been going for at least a year, and eight per cent for at least two years. Of the relationships that had already ended at the time of the survey, 14 per cent had lasted over a year, and four per cent had lasted over two years.

 

 

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Notes to editors: The 94 per cent success rate (the percentage of those who went on to meet more than once) refers to the most significant online relationship that the respondents had, not to all their online relationships. Of the 229 people interviewed, 90 per cent had met their most significant 'e-partner', and of these 94 per cent went on to meet again.

 

Dr Gavin is an authority on internet dating agencies, having published several papers on this subject. For further information and interviews, please contact Tony Trueman in the University of Bath press office.

 

source

[Malika]

Well, lets be honest, where do people meet now days? After a long day at work,one comes home,slope infront of the tv...or that could just be me..oh dear, what are these sites called??

[me]

SOL

[Malika]

^^^Loool, SOL it is, mashaallah pleanty of fishes here..

[Paragon]

^^This is the whole reason he started the topic, to fish . And you are in the net already, good luck new fish .

[me]

^ Odayga I knew in aad godkaaga ka soo baxaysid. and how you went for the bait. Resist man resist, your on holiday anigoo East Africa jooga yaaba igu arki lahaa SOL. (In other words, let us enjoy your absence)

 

So how is the fishing going Munira? please do share.

[-Lily-]

I read another article a while ago that said more people meet on online dating sites than at dinner parties and pubs, and by the end of the decade that would double. I think internet dating is loosing its negative image, previously internet dating was associated with 'looser' characters who must have 'failed' socially and thus had no alternative but to turn to the net. And now, Lo and Behold, all these successful 'normal' people are online.

 

Being Somalis and scattered all over the place, I would think internet dating is more relevant than we are willing to admit. Obviously it's not ideal and people should be careful.

[Malika]

If you dont do dinner parties or hanging out at pubs,where do you meet decent faraax? which I hope they dont hang out at pubs!

 

I agree with lily,online dating is becoming more relevant now days..,signs of the times

 

 

Me,am preparing the report for you,baal yaraa suug!

[Abdulladiif Al-Fiqih]

If you dont do dinner parties or hanging out at pubs,where do you meet decent faraax? which I hope they dont hang out at pubs!

Great faaraxs are found at the religious gatherings, at the mosque, community events, asking your single gf to let you know if she spot a decent faarax that she might not interested in , asking married folks/friends if they know a decent bro, and also at schools and visit xaafadaha if you must

[sheherazade]

schools, aa? Darn Americans.

[-Serenity-]

Being able to use the internet to look for love/partnership is a great convenience and a powerful tool to have at one's disposal. One that most of the world has caught on to and is making great strides to make as secure and painless a process as possible.

 

But as a Somali, dont get happy yet. It will never work for you. Nothing does, obviously. You come from a community that has a tendency to ruin and put a negetive spin on just about anything you did, do or could do.

[xiinfaniin]

^^Internetka layskuma hallayn karo---waa xoolo jinni.

[Che -Guevara]

Serenity...Aren't you reinforcing that negativity by being so discouring.

 

Xiin...Dee Odayaasha looguma tala galin.

[xiinfaniin]

^^lol.

 

Nin gu' kaa weyn garaad kaa weyn, aw kamaa qaala sowmaal!

[Che -Guevara]

Nin gu' kaa weyn garaad kaa weyn

Waxaas odayaasha Soomaalida niyada isu dhisa ee wax kale manoo sheegaysa ninyahow.