Niche sites, changing opinions lure college students into online dating

The dating world is not what it used to be.

Traditionally in college, couples met over coffee in a study session, through friends at a party or a drunken make-out session at a bar. Dating has always been considered a mostly random event, but now with the integration of social media and online dating sites in our lives, what was once a random romance is now a digital friend request away.

For people used to the contact sport of dating, the digital dating world has always seemed a bit, well, desperate. The idea of looking for a potential mate through an online library of profiles wasn't trusted initially, but according to online dating expert and bestselling author, Julie Spira, the online dating business is now a multi-billion dollar industry, with thousands of sites to choose from.

Their growth and success can only mean one thing; people are jumping on the digital dating wagon and the stigma that was once attached to online dating has really evaporated, Spira says.

"Gone are the days where looking for love online was only for the dating-challenged," she says. "Singles are enjoying the freedom of looking for love online."

The huge growth of social networking sites has dramatically affected the growth and acceptance of online dating, Spira says. "I know couples who've met and fallen in love on Twitter and others who met while scanning their friends' friends list on Facebook."

According to Spira, since the average Facebook member logs on for 45 minutes to an hour every day, they are already engaging through chat, comments on status updates and viewing their friends' activities. "Facebook can be considered the world's largest dating site," she says.

Online dating provides an exciting alternative to the run-of-the-mill bar scene. And with almost everyone connected to the digital world, it is easy and super accessible – you don't even have to take off your pajamas to do it.

Access to online dating sites is available 24-hours a day, and the best part is that singles are able to connect through smart phones and actively engage on social networking sites whenever they want.    

Though some people are weary of paying a price of an online dating site, it is surprisingly cost-effective when you consider the money spent on a bad date or a tab at the bar.

RC Wolfe, 27, says he signed up for Match.com hoping to find a connection outside the bars. "I got burned out of that scene, it's a lot of BS," Wolfe says referring to the money and effort spent on girls who are only interested in a free drink but are not willing to give more than a forced five-minute conversation. Wolfe said he hoped online dating would help him meet someone looking for the same thing he was.

Though he's been on a few dates and made some good friends through it, Wolfe says he is no longer on Match. "I just found that a lot of the females on there were looking for someone thinking about marriage."

It makes sense, a lot of the people who have turned to online dating are older. In college, there are more social activities and opportunities to meet new people. Many college students enjoy their membership on free dating sites such as Plenty of Fish and OkCupid, which boasts that 60 percent of their members are aged 18 to 30. Match.com also reports that 29 percent of their members are under the age of 30. In addition, there are some niche sites popping up to focus on college students, Spira says. Sites like CampusHook.com and EduHookUps.com however, are mostly about what the URL suggests.

"I think it's a great option," Wolfe says. "The worst that can happen is that you meet some interesting people and you make some friends."

Spira suggests joining more than one online dating site. "Find a large popular site and then a smaller niche site that is either hobby based or religious related." But the most important thing, she says, is to be careful not to hide behind your online persona, she says.

"Make sure to take your relationship from online to offline as soon as possible so you don't end up with the false illusion that you are in a relationship when you only know someone by their screen name and behind their computer."