writing essay online dating

Presentations made painless

• Get Premium

124 Online Dating Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Online dating has become increasingly popular in the digital age, with millions of people turning to the internet to find love and companionship. With the rise of dating apps and websites, the world of online dating has opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for singles looking to connect with others.

If you're considering writing an essay on online dating, here are 124 topic ideas and examples to get you started:

• The pros and cons of online dating
• How online dating has changed the way we meet and connect with others
• The impact of online dating on traditional dating practices
• The role of technology in shaping modern relationships
• The psychology of online dating: why do people turn to the internet to find love?
• The dangers of online dating: how to stay safe while looking for love online
• The stigma of online dating: is it still taboo?
• The rise of niche dating sites: catering to specific interests and preferences
• The science of online dating: how algorithms and data analysis are revolutionizing the matchmaking process
• The future of online dating: what trends can we expect to see in the coming years?
• Online dating versus traditional dating: which is more effective?
• The impact of social media on online dating
• The economics of online dating: how much does it really cost to find love online?
• The role of gender in online dating: do men and women approach online dating differently?
• The influence of culture and ethnicity on online dating preferences
• The psychology of attraction in online dating: what makes someone swipe right?
• The role of photos in online dating profiles: do looks really matter?
• The rise of ghosting in online dating: why do people disappear without a trace?
• The impact of online dating on mental health and self-esteem
• The phenomenon of catfishing in online dating: how to spot a fake profile
• The role of communication in online dating: how to keep the conversation flowing
• The dos and don'ts of online dating: tips for success in the digital dating world
• The impact of online dating on long-distance relationships
• The influence of age on online dating preferences
• The role of education and income in online dating choices
• The influence of religion on online dating practices
• The impact of physical appearance on online dating success
• The role of humor in online dating profiles
• The influence of hobbies and interests on online dating compatibility
• The impact of online dating on marriage and divorce rates
• The rise of virtual dating during the COVID-19 pandemic
• The impact of online dating on LGBTQ+ relationships
• The influence of social status on online dating choices
• The role of personality tests in online dating
• The impact of online dating on hookup culture
• The influence of peer pressure on online dating choices
• The role of family and friends in online dating success
• The impact of online dating on traditional gender roles
• The influence of ageism in online dating
• The rise of sugar daddy and sugar baby relationships in online dating
• The impact of body image on online dating success
• The role of honesty and transparency in online dating profiles
• The influence of technology addiction on online dating behavior
• The impact of online dating on societal norms and values
• The rise of online dating scams: how to protect yourself from fraud
• The influence of astrology and horoscopes on online dating compatibility
• The role of race and ethnicity in online dating preferences
• The impact of social class on online dating choices
• The influence of language and communication barriers in online dating
• The rise of virtual reality dating experiences in the online dating world
• The impact of online dating on mental health and well-being
• The role of trust and intimacy in online dating relationships
• The influence of physical proximity on online dating success
• The impact of past relationships on online dating behavior
• The role of vulnerability and authenticity in online dating profiles
• The influence of social media influencers on online dating trends
• The rise of polyamory and open relationships in online dating
• The impact of cultural differences on online dating compatibility
• The role of attachment styles in online dating behavior
• The influence of societal pressure on online dating choices
• The impact of age gaps in online dating relationships
• The rise of virtual speed dating events in the online dating world
• The influence of travel and adventure on online dating preferences
• The role of spirituality and mindfulness in online dating success
• The impact of socioeconomic status on online dating behavior
• The influence of body positivity and self-love in online dating profiles
• The rise of virtual reality dating apps in the online dating market
• The impact of online dating on sexual health and consent
• The role of consent and boundaries in online dating interactions
• The influence of attachment styles on online dating compatibility
• The impact of cultural norms and values on online dating behavior
• The role of communication styles in online dating success
• The influence of introversion and extroversion on online dating preferences
• The rise of ethical non-monogamy in online dating
• The impact of distance and time zones on online dating relationships
• The role of emotional intelligence in online dating interactions
• The influence of self-esteem and self-worth on online dating behavior
• The impact of mental health struggles on online dating experiences
• The rise of video dating in the online dating world
• The role of mutual interests and hobbies in online dating compatibility
• The influence of political beliefs on online dating choices
• The impact of online dating on hookup culture and casual relationships

With so many potential topics to choose from, writing an essay on online dating can provide valuable insights into the changing landscape of modern relationships. Whether you're exploring the psychological aspects of online dating or analyzing the impact of technology on romantic connections, there's no shortage of ideas to explore in this fascinating field. So grab your keyboard and start exploring the world of online dating through the lens of your chosen topic ''' you never know what you might discover along the way.

Want to research companies faster?

Instantly access industry insights

Let PitchGrade do this for me

Leverage powerful AI research capabilities

We will create your text and designs for you. Sit back and relax while we do the work.

Explore More Content

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

© 2024 Pitchgrade

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Read our research on:

Full Topic List

Regions & Countries

• Publications
• Our Methods
• Short Reads
• Tools & Resources

Read Our Research On:

• The Virtues and Downsides of Online Dating

30% of U.S. adults say they have used a dating site or app. A majority of online daters say their overall experience was positive, but many users – particularly younger women – report being harassed or sent explicit messages on these platforms

Table of contents.

• 1. Americans’ personal experiences with online dating
• 2. Users of online dating platforms experience both positive – and negative – aspects of courtship on the web
• 3. Americans’ opinions about the online dating environment
• Acknowledgments
• Methodology

How we did this

Pew Research Center has long studied the changing nature of romantic relationships and the role of digital technology in how people meet potential partners and navigate web-based dating platforms. This particular report focuses on the patterns, experiences and attitudes related to online dating in America. These findings are based on a survey conducted Oct. 16 to 28, 2019, among 4,860 U.S. adults. This includes those who took part as members of Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses, as well as respondents from the Ipsos KnowledgePanel who indicated that they identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB). The margin of sampling error for the full sample is plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.

Recruiting ATP panelists by phone or mail ensures that nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. This gives us confidence that any sample can represent the whole U.S. adult population (see our Methods 101 explainer on random sampling). To further ensure that each ATP survey reflects a balanced cross-section of the nation, the data are weighted to match the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories.

For more, see the report’s methodology about the project. You can also find the questions asked, and the answers the public provided in this topline .

From personal ads that began appearing in publications around the 1700s to videocassette dating services that sprang up decades ago, the platforms people use to seek out romantic partners have evolved throughout history. This evolution has continued with the rise of online dating sites and mobile apps.

Today, three-in-ten U.S. adults say they have ever used an online dating site or app – including 11% who have done so in the past year, according to a new Pew Research Center survey conducted Oct. 16 to 28, 2019. For some Americans, these platforms have been instrumental in forging meaningful connections: 12% say they have married or been in a committed relationship with someone they first met through a dating site or app. All in all, about a quarter of Americans (23%) say they have ever gone on a date with someone they first met through a dating site or app.

Previous Pew Research Center studies about online dating indicate that the share of Americans who have used these platforms – as well as the share who have found a spouse or partner through them – has risen over time. In 2013, 11% of U.S. adults said they had ever used a dating site or app, while just 3% reported that they had entered into a long-term relationship or marriage with someone they first met through online dating. It is important to note that there are some changes in question wording between the Center’s 2013 and 2019 surveys, as well as differences in how these surveys were fielded. 1 Even so, it is clear that websites and mobile apps are playing a larger role in the dating environment than in previous years. 2

The current survey finds that online dating is especially popular among certain groups – particularly younger adults and those who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB). Roughly half or more of 18- to 29-year-olds (48%) and LGB adults (55%) say they have ever used a dating site or app, while about 20% in each group say they have married or been in a committed relationship with someone they first met through these platforms. Americans who have used online dating offer a mixed look at their time on these platforms.

On a broad level, online dating users are more likely to describe their overall experience using these platforms in positive rather than negative terms. Additionally, majorities of online daters say it was at least somewhat easy for them to find others that they found physically attractive, shared common interests with, or who seemed like someone they would want to meet in person. But users also share some of the downsides to online dating. Roughly seven-in-ten online daters believe it is very common for those who use these platforms to lie to try to appear more desirable. And by a wide margin, Americans who have used a dating site or app in the past year say the experience left them feeling more frustrated (45%) than hopeful (28%).

Other incidents highlight how dating sites or apps can become a venue for bothersome or harassing behavior – especially for women under the age of 35. For example, 60% of female users ages 18 to 34 say someone on a dating site or app continued to contact them after they said they were not interested, while a similar share (57%) report being sent a sexually explicit message or image they didn’t ask for.

Online dating has not only disrupted more traditional ways of meeting romantic partners, its rise also comes at a time when norms and behaviors around marriage and cohabitation also are changing as more people delay marriage or choose to remain single.

These shifting realities have sparked a broader debate about the impact of online dating on romantic relationships in America. On one side, some highlight the ease and efficiency of using these platforms to search for dates, as well as the sites’ ability to expand users’ dating options beyond their traditional social circles. Others offer a less flattering narrative about online dating – ranging from concerns about scams or harassment to the belief that these platforms facilitate superficial relationships rather than meaningful ones. This survey finds that the public is somewhat ambivalent about the overall impact of online dating. Half of Americans believe dating sites and apps have had neither a positive nor negative effect on dating and relationships, while smaller shares think its effect has either been mostly positive (22%) or mostly negative (26%).

Terminology

Throughout this report, “online dating users” and “online daters” are used interchangeably to refer to the 30% of respondents in this survey who answered yes to the following question: “Have you ever used an online dating site or dating app?”

These findings come from a nationally representative survey of 4,860 U.S. adults conducted online Oct. 16 to 28, 2019, using Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel. The following are among the major findings.

Younger adults – as well as those who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual – are especially likely to use online dating sites or apps

Some 30% of Americans say they have ever used an online dating site or app. Out of those who have used these platforms, 18% say they are currently using them, while an additional 17% say they are not currently doing so but have used them in the past year.

Experience with online dating varies substantially by age. While 48% of 18- to 29-year-olds say they have ever used a dating site or app, that share is 38% among 30- to 49-year-olds, and it is even smaller among those ages 50 and older. Still, online dating is not completely foreign to those in their 50s or early 60s: 19% of adults ages 50 to 64 say they have used a dating site or app.

Beyond age, there also are striking differences by sexual orientation. 3 LGB adults are about twice as likely as straight adults to say they have used a dating site or app (55% vs. 28%). 4 And in a pattern consistent with previous Pew Research Center surveys , college graduates and those with some college experience are more likely than those with a high school education or less to say they’ve ever online dated.

There are only modest differences between men and women in their use of dating sites or apps, while white, black or Hispanic adults all are equally likely to say they have ever used these platforms.

At the same time, a small share of U.S. adults report that they found a significant other through online dating platforms. Some 12% of adults say they have married or entered into a committed relationship with someone they first met through a dating site or app. This too follows a pattern similar to that seen in overall use, with adults under the age of 50, those who are LGB or who have higher levels of educational attainment more likely to report finding a spouse or committed partner through these platforms.

A majority of online daters say they found it at least somewhat easy to come across others on dating sites or apps that they were physically attracted to or shared their interests

Online dating users are more likely to describe their overall experience with using dating sites or apps in positive, rather than negative, terms. Some 57% of Americans who have ever used a dating site or app say their own personal experiences with these platforms have been very or somewhat positive. Still, about four-in-ten online daters (42%) describe their personal experience with dating sites or apps as at least somewhat negative.

For the most part, different demographic groups tend to view their online dating experiences similarly. But there are some notable exceptions. College-educated online daters, for example, are far more likely than those with a high school diploma or less to say that their own personal experience with dating sites or apps is very or somewhat positive (63% vs. 47%).

At the same time, 71% of online daters report that it was at least somewhat easy to find people on dating sites or apps that they found physically attractive, while about two-thirds say it was easy to find people who shared their hobbies or interests or seemed like someone they would want to meet in person.

While majorities across various demographic groups are more likely to describe their searches as easy, rather than difficult, there are some differences by gender. Among online daters, women are more likely than men to say it was at least somewhat difficult to find people they were physically attracted to (36% vs. 21%), while men were more likely than women to express that it was difficult to find others who shared their hobbies and interests (41% vs. 30%).

Men who have online dated in the past five years are more likely than women to feel as if they did not get enough messages from other users

When asked if they received too many, not enough or just about the right amount of messages on dating sites or apps, 43% of Americans who online dated in the past five years say they did not receive enough messages, while 17% say they received too many messages. Another 40% think the amount of messages they received was just about right.

There are substantial gender differences in the amount of attention online daters say they received on dating sites or apps. Men who have online dated in the past five years are far more likely than women to feel as if they did not get enough messages (57% vs. 24%). On the other hand, women who have online dated in this time period are five times as likely as men to think they were sent too many messages (30% vs. 6%).

The survey also asked online daters about their experiences with getting messages from people they were interested in. In a similar pattern, these users are more likely to report receiving too few rather than too many of these messages (54% vs. 13%). And while gender differences remain, they are far less pronounced. For example, 61% of men who have online dated in the past five years say they did not receive enough messages from people they were interested in, compared with 44% of women who say this.

Roughly seven-in-ten online daters think people lying to appear more desirable is a very common occurrence on online dating platforms

Online daters widely believe that dishonesty is a pervasive issue on these platforms. A clear majority of online daters (71%) say it is very common for people on these platforms to lie about themselves to appear more desirable, while another 25% think it is somewhat common. Only 3% of online daters think this is not a common occurrence on dating platforms.

Smaller, but still substantial shares, of online daters believe people setting up fake accounts in order to scam others (50%) or people receiving sexually explicit messages or images they did not ask for (48%) are very common on dating sites and apps. By contrast, online daters are less likely to think harassment or bullying, and privacy violations, such as data breaches or identify theft, are very common occurrences on these platforms.

Some users – especially younger women – report being the target of rude or harassing behavior while on these platforms

Some experts contend that the open nature of online dating — that is, the fact that many users are strangers to one another — has created a less civil dating environment and therefore makes it difficult to hold people accountable for their behavior. This survey finds that a notable share of online daters have been subjected to some form of harassment measured in this survey.

Roughly three-in-ten or more online dating users say someone through a dating site or app continued to contact them after they said they were not interested (37%), sent them a sexually explicit message or image they didn’t ask for (35%) or called them an offensive name (28%). Fewer online daters say someone via a dating site or app has threatened to physically harm them.

Younger women are particularly likely to encounter each of these behaviors. Six-in-ten female online dating users ages 18 to 34 say someone via a dating site or app continued to contact them after they said they were not interested, while 57% report that another user has sent them a sexually explicit message or image they didn’t ask for. Other negative interactions are more violent in nature: 19% of younger female users say someone on a dating site or app has threatened to physically harm them – roughly twice the rate of men in the same age range who say this.

The likelihood of encountering these kinds of behaviors on dating platforms also varies by sexual orientation. Fully 56% of LGB users say someone on a dating site or app has sent them a sexually explicit message or image they didn’t ask for, compared with about one-third of straight users (32%). LGB users are also more likely than straight users to say someone on a dating site or app continued to contact them after they told them they were not interested, called them an offensive name or threatened to physically harm them.

Online dating is not universally seen as a safe way to meet someone

The creators of online dating sites and apps have at times struggled with the perception that these sites could facilitate troubling – or even dangerous – encounters. And although there is some evidence that much of the stigma surrounding these sites has diminished over time, close to half of Americans still find the prospect of meeting someone through a dating site unsafe.

Some 53% of Americans overall (including those who have and have not online dated) agree that dating sites and apps are a very or somewhat safe way to meet people, while a somewhat smaller share (46%) believe these platforms are a not too or not at all safe way of meeting people.

Americans who have never used a dating site or app are particularly skeptical about the safety of online dating. Roughly half of adults who have never used a dating or app (52%) believe that these platforms are a not too or not at all safe way to meet others, compared with 29% of those who have online dated.

There are some groups who are particularly wary of the idea of meeting someone through dating platforms. Women are more inclined than men to believe that dating sites and apps are not a safe way to meet someone (53% vs. 39%).

Age and education are also linked to differing attitudes about the topic. For example, 59% of Americans ages 65 and older say meeting someone this way is not safe, compared with 51% of those ages 50 to 64 and 39% among adults under the age of 50. Those who have a high school education or less are especially likely to say that dating sites and apps are not a safe way to meet people, compared with those who have some college experience or who have at bachelor’s or advanced degree. These patterns are consistent regardless of each group’s own personal experience with using dating sites or apps.

Pluralities think online dating has neither helped nor harmed dating and relationships and that relationships that start online are just as successful as those that begin offline

Americans – regardless of whether they have personally used online dating services or not – also weighed in on the virtues and pitfalls of online dating. Some 22% of Americans say online dating sites and apps have had a mostly positive effect on dating and relationships, while a similar proportion (26%) believe their effect has been mostly negative. Still, the largest share of adults – 50% – say online dating has had neither a positive nor negative effect on dating and relationships.

Respondents who say online dating’s effect has been mostly positive or mostly negative were asked to explain in their own words why they felt this way. Some of the most common reasons provided by those who believe online dating has had a positive effect focus on its ability to expand people’s dating pools and to allow people to evaluate someone before agreeing to meet in person. These users also believe dating sites and apps generally make the process of dating easier. On the other hand, people who said online dating has had a mostly negative effect most commonly cite dishonesty and the idea that users misrepresent themselves.

Pluralities also believe that whether a couple met online or in person has little effect on the success of their relationship. Just over half of Americans (54%) say that relationships where couples meet through a dating site or app are just as successful as those that begin in person, 38% believe these relationships are less successful, while 5% deem them more successful.

Public attitudes about the impact or success of online dating differ between those who have used dating platforms and those who have not. While 29% of online dating users say dating sites and apps have had a mostly positive effect on dating and relationships, that share is 21% among non-users. People who have ever used a dating site or app also have a more positive assessment of relationships forged online. Some 62% of online daters believe relationships where people first met through a dating site or app are just as successful as those that began in person, compared with 52% of those who never online dated.

• Pew Research Center’s 2013 survey about online dating was conducted via telephone, while the 2019 survey was fielded online through the Center’s American Trends Panel . In addition, there were some changes in question wording between these surveys. Please read the Methodology section for full details on how the 2019 survey was conducted. ↩
• Other studies show that online dating is playing a larger role in how romantic partners meet. See Rosenfeld, Michael J., Reuben J. Thomas, and Sonia Hausen. 2019. “ Disintermediating your friends: How online dating in the United States displaces other ways of meeting .” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. ↩
• This survey includes an oversample of lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) adults. For more details, see the Methodology section of the report. ↩
• Other research suggests that online dating is an especially important way for populations with a small pool of potential partners – such as those who identify as gay or lesbian – to identify and meet partners. See Rosenfeld, Michael J., and Thomas, Reuben J. 2012. “ Searching for a Mate: The Rise of the Internet as a Social Intermediary .” American Sociological Review. ↩

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Fresh data delivery Saturday mornings

Sign up for The Briefing

Weekly updates on the world of news & information

• Gender & Tech
• LGBTQ Attitudes & Experiences
• Online Dating
• Online Harassment & Bullying
• Online Privacy & Security
• Privacy Rights
• Romance & Dating
• Sexual Misconduct & Harassment
• Social Media

U.S. women more concerned than men about some AI developments, especially driverless cars

Young women often face sexual harassment online – including on dating sites and apps, how social media users have discussed sexual harassment since #metoo went viral, there’s a large gender gap in congressional facebook posts about sexual misconduct, women are more concerned than men about gender discrimination in tech industry, most popular, report materials.

• Shareable facts about Americans’ experiences with online dating
• American Trends Panel Wave 56

901 E St. NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20004 USA (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax (+1) 202-419-4372 |  Media Inquiries

Research Topics

• Email Newsletters

ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER  Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan, nonadvocacy fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It does not take policy positions. The Center conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, computational social science research and other data-driven research. Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts , its primary funder.

© 2024 Pew Research Center

Home / Essay Samples / Life / Love / Online Dating

Online Dating Essay Examples

Online dating and its impact on modern relationships.

Dating has always been a part of society, where 2 people decide the connection is strong enough to become a part of each other's lives. Humans have been dating since before history, as relationships progresses and leads to reproduction. It’s almost like a natural instinct...

The Positive Influence of Online Dating on Society and Relationships

Tinder, Grinder, eHarmony, and Bumble. These five words had zero correlation a decade ago, but today connect millions of users worldwide. These platforms revolutionized dating by creating online match making services available at consumers’ fingertips. Not only do they connect potential suitors, but they also...

Why Online Dating Should Be Banned

Online dating seems to be a good way for finding your soulmate. However, when using online dating sites, you put yourself in a big risk as it can be very dangerous. You will never know exactly who is on the other side of the screen....

Comparison of Online Dating and Traditional Dating

Improvements in technology brought many changes in people's lives. With recent technology innovations, new ways to communicate among people were created. One of these forms is online dating which gives people access to meet a person of their interest. However, real dating or in other...

Online Dating – Romance on the Internet

Online dating or E-dating has become a global phenomena in the recent years. This could be attributed to the advent of web 2.0 and the increase in number of people who have access to the internet. The first modern online dating website became available to...

Discussion of Whether Online Dating is Safe and Productive

Online dating commonly requirement is that they have radically change the dating environment for the better. The article “Critical Analysis From The Perspective Of Psychological Science” investigates whether: Is online dating is different from the traditional offline dating? Is online dating promotes better expression of...

Romantic Relationship Quality and Ideal Mate Selection Influence on Self-esteem

Physical attractiveness is a valuable social commodity – it can be used to bargain and exchange, for gains and benefits, translated into goods and services, and even has commercial value; all of which strongly affect one’s confidence about formation of relationships. Whereas, the maintenance of...

The Aspects of Online Dating and Mate Preferences

Human journey from hunter gatherers living in jungles to digital beings living in virtual world has been an overwhelming one. However, several of our behaviors, fears etc can still be dated back to our ancestors. The objective of the current study was to see whether...

Media Use to Protect on Online Dating

Online is a world-promote friendship before coming into the real world. Today, a new relationship is often caused by internet conversations or dating web-based online friends, which are now widely popular because society needs the convenience of communication. Whether someone knows or searches for new...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!

You may also like

• Beauty Essays
• Relationship Essays
• Jealousy Essays
• Marriage Essays
• Famous Person Essays
• Values Essays
• Respect Essays
• Honesty Essays
• Children Essays
• Diet Essays

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->