The Growth of Online Dating

Source: Stanford and Benedict Evans Published: January 2020

Source: Stanford and Benedict Evans
Published: January 2020

The Growth of Online Dating

Circulated: February 14, 2020

Stanford sociologist Michael Rosenfeld found that heterosexual couples are more likely to meet a romantic partner online than through personal contacts and connections. Since 1940, traditional ways of meeting partners — through family, in church and in the neighborhood — have all been in decline. This study did not include homosexual couples.

39% of heterosexual couples reported meeting their partner online, compared to 22% in 2009.