Is Online Dating Inferior to Traditional Dating?

Picture this: you and your new honey are at a party together, and an acquaintance smiles at you and asks, “So how did you two meet?”

About a decade ago, most couples would probably say, “Oh, friends introduced us,” or “We used to work together at this part-time gig.”

Nowadays, it’s more common for couples to say they met without actually having seen each other face-to-face first. Online dating has become the “in” thing among people of varying age demographics.

For something that used to raise eyebrows, online dating seems to be giving results. About 12% of American users are saying they are either in committed relationships or are married to someone they’ve met online.

Yet despite its meteoric rise, it still hasn’t taken the place of traditional dating. In fact, about 50% of users say that its impact on dating is only neutral.

If it’s neutral, does it mean the dating scene isn’t any better for it?

Maybe it’s only a matter of time. Or could it be that the obstacles online dating presents outweigh the potential rewards?

These terms have become familiar (and dreaded) among online daters:

• Breadcrumbing
• Ghosting
• Catfishing

But with the exception of catfishing, these issues have arguably predated online dating. It’s not as though dating traditionally guarantees the person you’re seeing won’t lie or disappear without a trace.

So if traditional dating presents the same risks, what does it have that still keeps it relevant for many people?

Maybe the clue is in catfishing.

Catfishing is unique to online dating. In traditional settings, people still lie, but it’s easier to get away with it online.

The majority of dating app users say that profile pictures matter to them. This goes beyond seeing if the person they’re talking to is attractive — this is about authenticity. Yes, photos can be faked. But an absence of photos can be alarming.

This is probably something that traditional dating has that most online dating still doesn’t. In traditional settings, you meet people face to face. You’d still go through the same risks. But it’s always nice to put a face to the name. There’s an element of assurance in that.

But online dating has made it possible for those whose circumstances make it difficult for them to go out and meet new people to date. It gives people more choices in dating partners. It’s made long-distance relationships more bearable by making communication more accessible.

Given all that it has to offer, online dating isn’t inferior to traditional dating.

In traditional dating, circumstances matter. Relationships between couples who started out as friends are more likely to thrive than those among couples who met as complete strangers at a club.

In online dating, the dating app or site you use matters. Its reputation for safety and security matters. The protocols it has in place to verify the identity of its users matter.

Its mission matters too. Dating sites should be upfront about that so that potential users know if it aligns with what they want. Is the dating site for those looking for friends with benefits? Is it for older people looking for those close to their age range?

Or is it for those who aren’t just dating but are looking for partners who are interested in marriage?

Ultimately, online or traditional dating doesn’t matter half as much as knowing what you want out of dating. If you’re going to put your heart and your time on the line, it’s best that you keep your mind on your side.