Just a few short years ago, the over-fifties were the age group most likely to have never used an online dating app or platform at all. Now, however, the fifty-plus crowd makes up a significant proportion of those active on the online dating front.
Around 20% of the single over-fifty population is currently using, or has used, an online dating app to look for romance, companionship, or fun – and a recent survey revealed that the majority of people believe that you’re twice more likely to find a relationship via an online forum than if you leave things to chance.
So what’s caused this major shift? There are many reasons why the senior dating scene is such a vibrant place right now, and we explore the three main ones below.
The Number of Sites and Apps
The sheer volume of dating sites designed specifically for the over-fifties is a key reason for the explosion in online dating that’s occurred within this age group. Whereas, in years gone by, there was very little provision for those wanting to ‘date their age,’ now there is a multitude of over 50 dating sites to choose from. This means that it’s easy for an individual to find the perfect suit to suit them and their needs.
One of the most popular 50-plus dating sites, Silver Singles, boasts more than 50,000 new sign-ups every single week and matches approximately 2,000 couples a month! Zoosk, a dating app that’s a hit with the over-fifties, too, currently has a member base of 40 million people worldwide.
The extremely high number of members active on these sites also makes it easier to find great matches than ever before. A dedicated senior dating app, too, means there’s no need to waste time scrolling through tonnes of profiles that aren’t right for you, age-wise: you know that the other people using the app are, like you, searching for a fifty-plus partner.
Companionship and Fun
Most senior dating sites are suitable for those who may not necessarily be looking for love but who would like companionship or the opportunity to meet new people and have fun! For those who have divorced or come out of a long-term relationship, finding romance may not be on the cards just yet, but they appreciate how a fifty-plus dating app can offer company, connectedness, and the chance to get back out there and start enjoying life to the full again.
In the United States, around 45% of those aged sixty-five and over are divorced. For this section of the population, feelings of isolation and loneliness can be a real threat, negatively impacting the quality of life and even affecting mental health. Senior dating sites have partly become so popular because they offer older adults a way to either date romantically or look for companionship at their own pace and from the comfort of their own homes.
Changing Times
Times have changed, and attitudes have moved on with them. While a few decades ago, the divorce rate was lower, and there was the expectation that a senior, once separated, divorced, or widowed, would stay single for the rest of their life, now things are very different. People no longer – in most cases – feel the same societal pressure to stay in unhappy relationships, which has pushed divorce rates up: there are; as a result, more single over fifties out there than ever before.
Added to this, we’re no longer expected to ‘act our age’ – dating isn’t viewed as the province of the young anymore, and the type and nature of activities we can enjoy is, in the main, no longer dependent on our date of birth.
This has all combined to create a society in which older adults now have the freedom to have fun and seek love and romance without any disapproving looks or fears that the world will frown on them.
Finding Love Over-50
If you’re fifty-plus and looking for love or companionship, then there’s a very good chance that you’ll find it on the online dating scene. Around one in five marriages (across all age groups) now begin online, so who knows, this could be the start of your very own happy ever after!
For the best chance of enjoying a positive online dating experience, be sure to take some time to research as many different dating apps and websites as possible to find the one that will suit you best. Some offer free trials or the opportunity to look around the site free of charge to help you get an idea of the one that you’ll feel most comfortable using.
As you start your online dating journey, it’s important to be sure to keep things light and not feel rushed into anything. Follow all the safety guidelines given on the platform, and try to go into each date with an open mind: avoid pressuring yourself or becoming committed to the idea that this person could be ‘the one.’ Simply enjoy the adventure and the opportunity to make new connections, and see where the road leads.
