Growing popularity of online dating services

Pavel Prikhodko, Ph.D. Machine Learning

Online dating in the United States is becoming more and more popular, especially for young people aged between 25 and 34: 28 percent of American dating site users belonged to this age group. During a 2014 survey it was found that 22 percent of dating site users were aged between 18 and 24. The number of dating site users between 35 and 44 years old and between 45 and 54 years old were both 18 percent. About 11 percent of dating site users fell in the 55 to 64 age group, and 4 percent were older than 65.

White non-Hispanics were most likely to date online: 66 percent of all dating sites users in 2014. According to Statista.com, it was found that 16 percent of American users of online dating sites users were Black, and about 15 percent of all dating site users were Hispanic. Only 4 percent of users were of other ethnicities.

In 2014, the majority of dating site users were men: 53.73 percent. Women made up 46.27 percent. If we examine marital status, about 12 percent of all users were married people. More than 50 percent were never previously married, while about 37 percent of dating site users were divorced, legally separated or widowed.

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The total number of users that accessed online dating services via any device in the United States was 5.62 million users in 2014, which was more than double the number of users in 2012 (2.68 million).

The popularity of online dating services can be explained by some peoples’ belief that it is easier to ask someone out online than a person. The total number of all people that felt this way was 72 percent in 2013 (73 percent for men and 72 percent for women). It was also found that 77 percent of men and 74 percent of women thought that online dating is a great way to meet people. About 61 percent of men and 72 percent of women stated that they knew people who had met through online dating.

There were also people who previously viewed online dating negatively: 76 percent of men and 84 percent of women (80 percent total). About 45 percent of women and 51 percent of men thought that online dating is safer than meeting people at a bar.

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About Pavel Prikhodko

Pavel Prikhodko, Ph.D. Machine Learning

Pavel has worked for many years as a researcher and developer on a wide range of applications (varying from mechanics and manufacturing to social data, finance and advertising), building predictive systems and trying to find stories that data can tell.

In his free time, he enjoys being with his family.

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