In The News: The Over 50s – Technology and Dating

It’s heartening to read that newcomers to the web are largely coming from the over 50s demographic – with over half of new users fitting that profile.

Very often we associate technology with youth, and it’s often tempting for those beyond their teens to abandon all hope of ever getting to grips with computers and machinery that are now so advanced, it can seem alienating. I’m pleased to see that the over 50’s are catching up, and look forward to the point when we’re actually a little ahead!

There are so many uses for this technology, especially when it comes to the web, that it simply doesn’t make sense for the internet to be dominated by younger people. Every business under the sun is available online now, so it needn’t just be those under 50 who make best use of services like online shopping, wiki information-based sites and the joys of blogging. It’s there and it’s available to all of us, so have no fear of getting stuck in.

And with technology comes internet dating.  Internet dating, is still often stigmatised and it seems that even those who look down on such sites are confused as to what dating site users log in for. On the one hand, they can be painted as sleazy places where people simply arrange to ‘hook up’, but on the other hand, it is often implied that they’re there for those who are unable to meet people in the real world.

The simple fact of the matter is that these claims are misleading.  Things have changed from the days where only ‘desperate’ people were members of online dating sites.  The truth is that the vast majority of people who use dating sites do so because they are dynamic, and because they’re looking forward to finding the right match faster, avoiding the silly games of courtship that can spring from a chance meeting in a bar.  For those that are a bit more shy it offers a chance to get to know someone a bit more before meeting them face to face, thus making the dating experience less traumatic.

It’s the connoisseur’s means of finding a partner, and those who pluck up the courage to take the plunge should be applauded.  There are dating sites for every taste just google in your dating site preference and see what comes up.

The sheer task of filling out a profile is a useful exercise in its own right.  You have to think about what you are really like, what you value, what you want and what you are looking for in a relationship – it sounds easy until you start to think about it.

So if you happen to be over 50, then there’s no better time to start than now. All it takes is to log on and start looking!