Online Dating Vs. Offline Dating: The Pros and Cons

Online dating, mobile dating, matchmakers, speed dating, personal ads, social networks, meeting through friends and family, and that most traditional way of meeting your match: drunk in a bar. There are so many options available to singles dating in the digital age that it's getting hard to choose. And somehow, even with all those opportunities in front of us, so many people still have trouble connecting.

What gives? Is one method better than another? Is dating online better than dating offline? Is it the other way around? Experts can't seem to agree on the subject, and the reason is surprisingly simple: there is no one-size-fits-all formula. All of our personalities are different, and all of our relationship goals are different, which means there's no one right way for everyone. Every method has its merits and its faults - it's all about finding what works for you.

Here are some of the pros and cons in the Online Dating vs. Offline Dating battle:

Online Dating:

• Pro: Millions and millions of singles have given it a try, meaning your chances of being introduced to someone you click with are astronomically higher. You can meet people outside of your geographic area and social circle that you would likely never meet otherwise.
• Con: With all those people, it can be an exhausting experience. Many singles have felt drained by online dating.
• Pro: One out of five relationships now start online. With so many success stories, something is clearly working.
• Con: Yes, people lie about things like age, weight, height, income, and marital status. It can get frustrating after a few bad dates.
• Pro: It's available 24 hours a day, from the comfort of your home. And it's efficient - many sites will even help you find compatible matches using scientifically advanced algorithms.
• Con: It's easy to accidentally target your search criteria too much. If you're too specific about what you're looking for, you might miss an opportunity to meet a compatible match.

Offline Dating:

• Pro: You probably have a social network in common, which makes you feel more comfortable. It's encouraging to know your date has already been vetted by family or friends.
• Con: But by being limited to your social circles and regular activities, you will meet fewer people.
• Pro: You can determine if there's real chemistry much faster if you're meeting in person. It's harder to fake a spark when you're not behind a screen.
• Con: You might be too shy to go for it in the first place. Rejection seems a lot more real when you're face-to-face.
• Pro: You can decrease the pressure by dating in groups or going out on casual outings with friends. Less official = less scary.
• Con: It's harder to tell if someone is into you romantically - or into the idea of a relationship at all - if it's not clear that you're on a date in the first place.

Your best bet? Try a combination of both. At the end of the digital day, that special someone could be anywhere.