Dating Over 50
Many singles over the age of 50 have a tendency to hesitate to get back into the dating game because they feel the dating scene has changed so dramatically in this age of modern technology and the rise of online dating is something they just are not familiar with. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that of the nearly 100 million Americans who are now 45 or older, almost 40 percent are currently available singles.
The over 50 dating game has never been more interesting and challenging than it is today simply because there are more players than ever before due to higher divorce rates and longer life spans. The reality is that there are now more single Americans than at any other time in history.
Despite the fact that our culture places on a heavy emphasis on being young and looking young, there is nothing that says single seniors can’t act young, even if they are not. When you are over 50 you should have mastered a few aspects of your life by now, even if it is only the wisdom to know that not every dating experience is a life or death affair. You should have gained enough perspective to have an edge on maturity and personal development, and those are both good things when it comes to dating.
One thing singles over 50 can do to get back into the dating game is to search online for books, CDs, coaches, courses and the many other resources available as you venture onto the dating scene. The rise of online dating sites, such as SeniorFriendFinder, may throw some seniors off a bit when they realize the old dating ways they were used to are not viable anymore, but the good news is that most of the good online dating sites allows seniors to hook up with like-minded seniors in their areas quite quickly and easily these days. It’s a fact of modern life that there is really no better way for a single over 50 to meet potential partners than on the Internet today.
According to data from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), a study of singles over the age of 55 said “Having someone to talk to or do things with” is the most important reason for dating. The AARP also asked both men and women in their 50’s what their top complaints about senior dating were and found that the men said:
Dating partners with a lot of baggage – 42%.
Women who become extremely difficult to get along with after a few dates – 28%.
Women who want to get serious too fast – 18%.
When the group of over 50 women were asked the same question the responses were:
Dating partners with a lot of baggage – 35%.
Not having a clue where to meet men and meeting too few new men – 23%.
Overeager men who want to get serious too fast – 21%.
Despite the complaints, it appears the phenomenon of online dating does offer singles over 50 the best way to find a relationship worth keeping today. The older generation is fully represented online and studies have found that nearly three quarters of adults between the ages of 50-64 now use the Internet regularly. Data from the Nielsen ratings firm backs this up with the finding that computer users aged 55+ now account for 22% of all traffic to on-line personal sites, and that the 50+ segment is the fastest growing group of subscribers on the most popular on-line dating sites. Overall, it is estimated that some 15 million Internet users have pursued their romantic interests successfully on-line in the U.S. and there is no reason that singles over 50 should be left out of the game. If you’re over 50 and looking for a relationship today, going online is simply the best and easiest way to accomplish your goal.
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