With two out of every five single people in Europe and the United States now using the internet to find a partner, it is safe to say that the phenomenon of online dating has altered the social and dating habits of tens of millions of people. But how did an amusing diversion activity like online dating become such an addictive and integral part of so many people's daily lives? Here are ten short paragraphs that can answer this question: -


1. There will be no more smokey bars and clubs. In the good old days, singles on the prowl would trawl the local pubs and clubs in their towns and cities in search of that special connection with someone who caught their eye. Instead, you can now browse the web from the comfort of your armchair or office, despite a bad hair day?


2. You are not required to be a computer whiz. Most online dating sites are easy to use and do not include complicated features to understand. Therefore, even the most inexperienced internet user can master the art of using a dating site.


3. There is a website that is ideal for you. There are global sites, country-specific sites, city-specific sites, niche sites for seniors, bikers, single parents, gay men and women, and pretty much anything else you can think of from your brain. You're not looking hard enough if you can't find an online service that perfectly fits your location and lifestyle.


4. Thousands of options. The majority of successful sites have thousands of active members in their databases. How many single people do you see when you walk into a party or a club who might be right for you? Probably only a few. Now that you've turned on your computer, you're completely spoiled for choice.


5. Find someone who is exactly your type. When you begin browsing the profiles of other members on a good dating site, you will be presented with several options. You can narrow your search to people who are compatible in terms of personality and lifestyle choices, in addition to finding physically attractive people.


6. Immediate gratification. The days of standing in a corner nursing your beer or glass of wine, hoping that the attractive guy or girl across the room will approach you and talk to you are gone. Instead, when you find someone you like on an online dating site, send them a message and introduce yourself. You won't have to worry about giving out personal information to strangers because your actual email address won't be displayed.


7. You set the pace. You can message people whenever you want and respond to other people's emails whenever you want. How frequently you use your chosen site and with whom you wish to communicate. The choice is on you whether you go fast or slow.


8. There will always be someone else. If any of the members you contact do not respond, or if you decide that someone with whom you've been exchanging emails isn't quite right for you, you can move on to someone else. Every day, good dating sites attract hundreds, if not thousands, of new members, so why put all your eggs in one container when you have many more baskets at your fingertips?


9. Extend your social circle. Yes, most people join dating sites to spice up their love lives, but many people also join to make new friends. For example, maybe you've just moved to a new town or city to start a new job, and what better way to meet new people than to join an online community of like-minded singles your age?


10. It's a lot of fun. Despite our busy lives, we all need some fun in our lives now and then, and searching the internet for attractive, compatible dates is a great way to do just that. In addition, it doesn't cost more than a round of drinks, so it's not much financial risk. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain by joining.


The convenience of online dating is accessible to anyone with a computer screen, so if you're single and have not yet tried it, why wait? That's why there's the internet!