Types (Niche)

CNN's Living section has a good article on dating and sex for singles 50 years or older. The author talks about how a lot of senior singles are looking more for companionship than marriage at this age. Sometimes sex may or may not be an option for the person. More than 35% of Americans, over 50 are single. These singles have been either separated, divorced, widowed or never even been married. Among with interesting statistics a number of senior related web sites are mentioned as being popular with people over 50. These include travel programs, volunteer programs, sports programs and online dating and social networking sites. Several of the sites mentioned are reviewed on our site, including, Match.com, SeniorFriendFinder.com and eHarmony.com. You can also check out our own Dating Over 50 category for more senior related dating services.

Read the article Sex and dating after 50 at CNN.

A new report by Juniper Research says that by 2012 mobile dating and chatroom services will have over a quarter of a billion people using them and revenues will pass $1 billion by 2010. Large dating services like Match.com and Date.com already have invested heavily in mobile services with Match.com recently upgrading their Match Mobile service with new features and a better interface (see previous story). Match Mobile members now have access to search all members available to regular Match subscribers.

For more information on this report head on over to PC Advisor.

Lavalife is in the midst of testing their new site for older and senior singles called Lavallife Prime. Officially to launch on May 23, 2007, Lavalife Prime looks to combine social networking (friends and interest groups) and online dating. They plan to offer people the freedom to add to your profile any life experiences, goals and interests you have along with any audio, pictures and videos that go with it. An interesting idea, most social networking sites are geared towards the younger generation, I wonder if this will be the one for the older?

Currently you can only create a profile on Lavalife Prime. You will have to wait to May 23rd to be able to log in and try it out.

While online dating is still dominated by singles who are in their 20s or 30s the highest growing demographic in online dating is the Baby Boomer generation. These 50+ singles are more tech savvy, have more time and more money than previous generations so it is a perfect fit. Also, a lot of these senior singles children have left home which also frees up both time and money for them to do other things.

According to a Media Life article called "Finding silver in the silver singles set", over 53% of visitors to Yahoo! Personals where over the age of 45 in February, 2007. This high percentage of older singles also holds true for the other major dating sites like AmericanSingles.com, True and eHarmony. Their percentages ranged from the high 30s and 40s.

The full Media Life article is here.

The Sugar Daddy Sugar Baby relationship has for many years been regarded as a source of amusement to those who have never experienced the benefit. Yes, everyone loves to be spoiled and pampered, but is it really necessary to include the age gap as part of the package?

It's true to say that many young men, on reaching the age in their lives when pubescence takes control of their lateral thinking, find themselves fantasizing about older females, often twice their own age and upwards. For instance it's quite common for young men still at school age, testosterone flying everywhere, to have the 'hots' for one or more of their female teachers, neighbor's wife or even a pal's mother.

The consensus of opinion reached by many is that the attraction by a young male to a more mature woman is based around the fact that she has experience.. a working knowledge of the male anatomy, and a sexual prowess not to be discovered so easily in a younger woman his own age.

Although there are exceptions, in the majority of cases, his secret lusting remains just that, and goes unnoticed by the older female who still regards him as a young student or friend of her son.

However, as the young male grows older, and gains his own level of experience, so his desire for the mature female wanes, and on reaching middle age, will frequently have his head 'turned' by a much younger woman.

All this is in stark contrast to the attraction patterns noted in the life of the female of the species. Whereas the young girl, on first becoming sexually aware, will hone her intimacy skill on the younger male, but she will often be less interested in him as she gets older, turning her attention to the more mature men that cross her path. But why is this the case?

The Sugar Daddy Phenomenon, whilst oftentimes the source of amusement for some, can in fact develop into quite a powerful relationship, with loyalty, romance and chivalry being key factors in the union. Many women note that a guy around her own age or younger, will not show her the same level of respect, or pay as much attention to detail that his older counterpart will be inclined to show her.

It's a valid point that women are more mature than men at any given age, and its not surprising that by the time she reaches her mid-thirties, she already feels more compatible with a male ten or twenty years her senior, and left guys her own age, far behind both mentally and emotionally. Her more mature partner is more equipped to seduce her mind as well as her body. He will be less afraid of displaying public affection, holding her hand or opening doors for her. Happy to allow the whole world see how proud he is to be by her side.

Sexually too, he may not be an athlete between the sheets, yet he will feel the need to ensure his girl is pleasured well as a priority over seeking to satisfy his own desires. Her younger lover will no doubt give her "the best seventeen seconds she's ever had", before raiding her fridge in search of a beer. Whereas in the case of her older guy, the foreplay will begin in the restaurant with witty flirting, eye contact and laughter. Later they will enjoy the afterglow together, the passion may have subsided but the emotion still very much alive.

The term 'Sugar Daddy' was first used in the early 1920's and is described in the WordWeb Dictionary as "A wealthy older man who gives a young person expensive gifts in return for friendship or intimacy". The sugar in this term alluded to the sweetening role of the gifts, and daddy to the age difference between the pair. There is no mention of love, romance or indeed a relationship in the dictionary description of the term, yet it is a fact that women are often attracted, even turned on by men of substance or power. Is it so inconceivable then, that a younger woman could find happiness in a relationship with a guy old enough to be her father, who has so much more to offer her than money and gifts?

I just read an interesting article regarding Match.com. They are one of the largest dating services on the internet, and this success is due partly to their marketing towards singles between the ages of 45 and 59 (Baby Boomers). These singles make up over 1.7 million members of Match.com's 15 million total membership, this is a 350% increase over the last 6 years. Another interesting thing to note is 7 out of 10 of these members are divorcees.

For more information, see the full article here.