The exact percentage of marriages that began with a first encounter through dating sates is debatable. Surveys and reports have claimed a wide range of numbers. A Harris interactive study in 2007 showed that around 7-8 percent of newlyweds surveyed met online. While this number is less than some actual sites have claimed, it still demonstrates that tremendous growth and influence that dating sites have had on relationships and marriages.
Some of the reasons for the growth in useage of a dating site are fairly obvious. You can meet and get to know others without the pressure and tension of face-to-face encounters. You can do your research and identify the best prospects before a first meeting, just like a businessperson might. Additionally, the pool of potential dating prospects is much greater when you have the opportunity to search through people around the country and the globe in some cases.
Dating sites and services vary somewhat in their offering and value. Eharmony is generally regarded as the “industry leader”, something the company, and statistics seem to validate. The company accounts for a little over one-fourth of the online dates that lead to marriage, according to the aforementioned Harris study.
