Looking for love? You are not alone in this age old quest for romance. Over the years, the method of finding love has changed and people of all age groups are taking advantage of the latest trend in match making. Internet dating sites are hugely popular among young people looking for that special someone, but also for individuals who are no longer spring chickens. In fact, according to the associate professor of sociology at Iowa State University, Alicia Cast, “older adults who are too busy to find a relationship in the conventional way are turning to the Web– and are largely successful in making desired connections”.

This makes sense as the lifestyle of older adults often hampers efforts to find love in traditional ways. If you already have an established career or obligations to your children, you have fewer opportunities to get out there and “meet” people, which is necessary to develop relationships. Using data collected from 175 newlywed couples, Cast learned that 25 of those couples met online. This included online dating sites, social networking sites or other online means.

If you or a loved one is serious about finding love online, the method should not be discounted as frivolous. People who are genuinely interested in the process and put forth the effort to seek out ideal matches are often rewarded with a serious relationship in a shorter period of time compared to individuals who take their chances offline. Research has found that people who do meet online are typically older and many have been married previously. The courtship for couples who have met online is also shorter, averaging 18.5 months compared to 42 months for couples who meet in more traditional manners.

Despite the growing popularity of online dating networks, not every match is one made in heaven. Consumers are urged to use caution when meeting people online. Most of the online dating websites like Match.com or eHarmony charge users a membership fee to access the profiles of other members. Anytime you are authorizing charges to your credit card from an online site you must make sure you understand the terms and conditions in order to avoid unexpected charges. In addition, consumers must be careful how much information they provide to virtual strangers and always conduct first time meetings in a public place. There are many success stories of people who have met and fallen in love online, however there are just as many horror stories of situations gone bad. Just as in the “real world” you must use caution whenever you meet someone new and take the time to get to know an individual before the relationship advances to the next level.