Connected Love: Privacy in Relationships and the Boundaries of Personal Space

I first created an OKCupid account in , and for nearly five years, online dating and I had a tumultuous, on-and-off relationship. Then, in December of , I decided I would take a break from online dating —and that unlike my previous “breaks,” this one would last for more than a few weeks. It’s actually ended up lasting a year because after seven months, I met someone—and it was IRL.

The biggest reason I had for deleting my dating apps was just an insufficient return on investment. Whether because we didn’t have much in common or we weren’t willing to put in much effort, my conversations rarely left the texting stage. When they did, second dates were rare and thirds were almost unheard of.

While dating apps have made connecting with someone online easier than pick-up lines and bad dates, I know from experience that online dating can be just as before you’re ready, feel free to pump the breaks and set some boundaries.

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. The margin of sampling error for the full sample is plus or minus 2.

Recruiting ATP panelists by phone or mail ensures that nearly all U. This gives us confidence that any sample can represent the whole U. To further ensure that each ATP survey reflects a balanced cross-section of the nation, the data are weighted to match the U. 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 s 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. 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. Americans who have used online dating offer a mixed look at their time on these platforms.