Is Online Dating for You? A Second Look

Online dating has become mainstream, one of the primary ways singles are meeting each other today. There are so many sites to choose from, from standards like Match.com to the niche and specialty sites based on dating preferences like JDate. It's also one of the fastest-growing industries, with revenues in excess of four billion in 2010 alone - and that's not even taking into account all the people signing up on free sites.

Despite its popularity and acceptance, there are some people who are still hesitant to try online dating. Some are afraid and others are doubtful about the results. So, I've decided to take the myths about online dating and set the record straight. Following are some typical arguments against online dating, and why you should reconsider:

I'm worried I'll look desperate. While many people feel online dating is a last-ditch attempt to find someone special, this is not at all the case. Most online daters have very active social lives and date a lot. They are people open to meeting others in more places than the bar or at a party, and they are looking to cast a wider net in the singles pool. It's not desperate to do online dating; it's actually a very social and healthy thing to do.

Nobody ever meets someone special online. On the contrary, I know many married and partnered couples who met through online dating. While not every date is going to go well, online dating certainly provides more choice in dates than ever before. Instead of approaching online dating with a negative attitude of "I'll never meet anyone good," try keeping an open mind and getting to know the people you do meet. I promise you will meet more interesting and diverse people this way, which expands your dating preferences as well.

I'm afraid to put my information out there. Online dating sites are not as information-friendly as social media sites like Facebook. You don't publish your real name, address, or any other personal or financial information. Don't offer financial or any other personal info if your matches ask for this, either. Only share what you feel comfortable sharing. Be safe, but there's no reason to be paranoid.

My friend tried it and said it sucked. While I know we trust in our friends, just because one or two had a bad experience, or tried it for a month and hated it, doesn't mean you will have the same experience. Again, it's all about attitude and approach. If you go in thinking it's going to be bad and you won't meet anybody, you won't. Effort is required. But don't take your friend's word for it - find out for yourself. You'll likely be pleasantly surprised! You might not meet Mr. Wonderful right away, but you'll have fun meeting new people and exercising your dating chops.

For one of the most popular mainstream dating sites you can check our our Match.com review.