What if we tell you that online dating is a tool we need to achieve world peace? You’d call us crazy, but there is more truth in that sentence than you’d say. Of course, online dating alone won’t change the world. Still, a lot of researches showed it helps in creating a harmonious society.
Online Dating Affects not Only the Relationship Between the Sexes but Also the Structure of Society
In 2018 and 2019, online dating was the second most popular way to meet new people for any relationship for straight people. Meeting with the help of friends was first at the time. Interestingly, the LGBT community recognized the power of online dating earlier, so it was the most popular way to meet people. 2020 came and changed everything. Straight people started using online dating more than ever; it became so popular that most new couples in 2020 met online. You may give credit for that to COVID, but researches show that online dating will keep its popularity long after COVID is gone.
Online Dating Makes People Work on Themselves
And that’s a good thing. Dating sites help achieve equality between sexes because both sexes can choose, everybody is safe, and it’s easy to block rude people. After those rude people realize they’ll never find a date if they don’t change, they rewire themselves and become better society members. Yes, because of selfish reasons, but that’s a good change, and the whole society benefits from it.
One portal about dating had a survey where they asked online dating users have they changed since they’ve started using online dating. The survey also involved users of this site who have successful online dating experiences. Most answers were similar. People claimed that they are more relaxed and more tolerant than before.
Online Dating Helps to Stop Racism
Online dating helps to fight racism as well. To understand how internet dating does that, you have to know about the study from Ortega and Hergovich. They created simulations of 10,000 societies. Adding different social connections to them resulted in different development and social structure. What they discovered about racism is fascinating. In simulations where they connected just a couple of members from different races, society started changing quickly. Those societies became less hostile towards members of different races. That leads to more interracial relationships, which in the end led to the complete dereference of racism.
Of course, that simulation isn’t the exact projection of the real world, but it showed that connecting just a couple of people from different parts of society helps society. It’s much easier to live among peaceful people who get along than among people who’re looking for a fight all the time. Interracial dating sites aren’t getting enough respect for their role in reducing racism. Yes, a racist wouldn’t join an interracial dating site in the first place. So how connecting non-racists help to change racists?
Simple, society shapes all of us. We need other people to survive, and racism is just one of the defensive mechanisms. People use it to get the feeling of belonging. As long as they have support from other people, racists will continue screaming. But with more and more interracial relationships forming thanks to online dating, society is changing too. When a group of racists sees an interracial couple, at least one of them will realize there is nothing wrong with it. That’s one racist less, that’s one less supporter for the rest of his group. One person at a time, society will change and become better, and we can partially thank that to online dating.
Online Dating Affects Divorce Rates
When you think about examples in the previous paragraph, they make sense because society will make a person change. That’s similar to evolution, and it’s quite natural. But the next discovery will shock you. Online dating has a positive effect on divorce rates.
In the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study about online dating and divorces (2013). The results were:
- 5,9% of couples who met online broke up
- 7,6% of couples who met offline broke up
Out of more than 19,000 couples who met online and got married, only 7% were divorced. When you know that approximately 50% of marriages end with a divorce, those are amazing numbers.
That study didn’t say what makes couples who meet online stronger, but it must be one thing. The time. Couples online usually take time and chat for a while before meeting in person. And with specialized sites, it’s easy to be among the people who share your hobbies, passion, etc. You’d heard that awful cliche: “Marry somebody who’ll be your best friend”. It’s a cliche, but it’s true. If you marry somebody who shares your interests, your marriage has better chances to last.
Thanks to online dating, many singles find what they seek, but as a side-effect, they’re making the whole world a better place. Online dating promotes equality and makes people question their behavior. That’s fertile soil for the change. Thanks to interracial sites, online dating helps to water down racism. More and more mixed couples are a sign that the world is slowly becoming a better place. We can’t forget the effect online dating has on divorce rates – couples who meet online are less likely to divorce. It looks like all of us can help to develop a harmonious society if we start online dating.