Dating : Online Dating vs Matchmaking | Is Online Dating Running Out of Steam?

Today, the internet is making it easier for people to connect and even date people they normally wouldn’t meet, such as Philippine women. You probably might be thinking that dating sites and apps would make it easier for people to find lasting relationships. However, it isn’t always the case. While such platforms have made it more convenient to meet new people (more or less 59% of users claim so), ironically, it’s actually getting even harder to find romantic connections. That’s in part because these dating sites and apps have become the go-to for people looking for flings and hook-ups.

To find love, more and more people are looking for other alternatives, such as matchmaking services. This may seem like an outdated practice, but there are a number of matchmaking agencies that are slowly gaining popularity. Nevertheless, in order to understand why such services are making a comeback, it helps to know why users are abandoning dating sites and dating apps:

1. Online dating fatigue

While there are numerous people you can meet online, this abundance of choices has also made users more impatient. The consequence is that they don’t put in as much effort to get to know one another, which also results in them having unrealistic expectations. This attitude has also given rise to “obligaswiping,” where users simply swipe on dating apps but don’t have actual plans to meet with anyone. Users that have sought help from matchmakers echo the same sentiments. That lack of connection and progress have convinced them to leave dating apps for good.

2. Ghosts and trolls

For those who aren’t familiar with these terms, ghosting is the act of avoiding a person until they eventually lose interest; on one hand, trolling is an antagonist deliberately making hurtful words or actions to get a rise out of someone or a group of people. Although not all users engage in such behavior, there is a fair number of them, so it’s not surprising to come across these ghosts and trolls every once in a while. And for a variety of reasons; anonymity, real-time reaction, the proliferation of social media has -ironically, made them more anti-social and in some cases, more aggressive. Because of these people, more and more users are driven out of online dating.

3. Dishonesty

It’s remarkably easy to create profiles online, even fake ones. That’s mainly because the method in verifying these profiles have not been perfected yet. Hence, users aren’t sure whether the person they’re dating online is really who they say they are. Some of the information these users lie about include their age, work, possessions, etc. There are even catfishers who pose as other people while engaging with potential love interests, either to make mischief, or to scam victims. All these factors just make the world of online dating all the more dubious to users.

4. Breakups

For those who manage to date with someone online, there’s a higher chance that their relationship won’t last long. A study conducted by Michigan State University revealed that couples who met online have a 28% chance of breaking up within the first year of their relationship. This is most likely because the prospects they meet don’t want the same things as them. And the statistics for married couples who met online are much worse (with their marriages usually ending in divorce). People who are looking for serious relationships are now looking for love elsewhere.

5. Scammers

Aside from ghosts and trolls, users also have to be wary of catfishers and other scammers. These are users who cultivate false identities through the photos of other users. In fact, almost 83 million Facebook profiles are most likely fake. The purpose of their false identities depends on the catfisher. Most of them are just a troll, manipulating others out of sheer boredom, but there are some that are much more vindictive. The more felonious catfishers are probably those who dupe other users into giving them large sums of money or blackmail them. To protect themselves, a number of users simply opt out of dating sites and apps altogether.