Marriage is more likely through online dating?

William Atkins
Saturday, 23 August 2008 23:14

Science - Health

A Harris Interactive online survey has concluded that if you are living in the United States and over 45 years of age, you are more likely to find love and marriage on the Internet than at work or being introduced by friends.



The online survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, consisted of over 10,000 people who were married in the United States between an eighteen-month period within 2006 and 2007.

The online matchmaking company eHarmony, headquartered in Pasadena, California, sponsored the survey.

According to its website, eHarmony “… is now the Internet’s No. 1 trusted relationship services provider. eHarmony’s patented Compatibility Matching System® allows eHarmony members to be matched with compatible persons with whom they are likely to enjoy a long-term relationship. Millions of people of all ages, ethnicities, national origins and religious and political beliefs have used eHarmony's Compatibility Matching System to find compatible long-term relationships. On average, 236 eHarmony members marry every day in the United States as a result of being matched on eHarmony.”

Dr. Galen Buckwalter, who helped Dr. Neil Clark Warren start eHarmony and is now its chief scientist, stated, “Wanting to get married and not going online will soon be seen as equivalent to trying to find an address by driving around randomly, rather than using a map.”

This article, and the statistics it contains, is based on the August 15, 2008 New Scientist article “Go online to find your future spouse.” (subscription required)

According to the online survey, of the surveyed people, 19% of the couples met on the Internet, while 17% of the couples met at work and 17% of the couples met through friends.

(Please note: 19% + 17% + 17% = 53%, so 47% of the couples met elsewhere, I wonder where?)

Of the people participating in the survey, if was found that 31% of those couples who were 45 to 54 years of age met on the Internet.

Of those couples who were 20 to 44 years of age only 18% met on the Internet.

Please read page two for another side of this article.