Seniors Join The Online Search For Love
Jeanette Pavini
Singles in their 20s and 30s aren’t the only ones clicking their way to companionship using online dating sites.
Jim and Carol Gregori are newlyweds. Each spent years looking for the right partner, and the search continued into their 50s. A few years ago they finally found each other.
"It was like…this is like a soul mate kind of a feeling," Jim says.
Before the pair had even laid eyes on each other, the couple clicked in cyberspace.
"I always thought that only teenagers and early 20s were the people that would use the site," Carol says.
But Carol and Jim were part of a growing group of older singles using online dating. Author Alice Solomon says seniors are taking a lead from younger users.
"They've caught on and are now on online dating sites a lot," Solomon says. "When a daughter finds a terrific guy and brings him home to meet mother, she says, 'Gee wiz, if that's how my daughter found a wonderful man, perhaps I could find one there, too.'"
Traditional dating sites are seeing an explosion of older members. Recently sites have surfaced to cater to a more mature crowd. Seniorfriendfinder.com now has nearly half a million members. But before you click, here are a few tips.
- Read the cancellation policies. Some sites give you a week to try it out. If you are not happy, they’ll refund your money.
- Don’t give your personal email address to anyone you are communicating with.
- If someone is bothering you, ask to have their email blocked.
- When setting up a first date, meet in a public place. Tell friends where you are going, and bring a cell phone.
For Jim and Carol, the search is over. They say they are looking forward to their golden years now that they have found each other.
Research by Match.com shows that only 26 percent of single seniors are actually looking for commitment or marriage. That’s much lower than the 60 percent of 30-somethings browsing for wedded bliss.
Source: CBS
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