Valentine’s Day is February 14, which coincides with February being “Healthy Relationships Month.” Whether looking for Mr/Ms. Right or a casual friendship, online dating may be viable – its certainly popular!  Statista reported that matchmaking websites are a $1.35 billion U.S. industry with almost 60 million users, of which 26% are over 50.

If you are considering diving into the online dating pool, Senior Planet explored a few matchmaking platforms specifically for older adults, their pros and cons, and safety tips for internet dating.

Dating Platforms for Older Adults

There are countless numbers of online dating sites, but listed below are three platforms dedicated to older adults. The pricing tiers depend on the duration of the membership.

• Silver Singles: (Free, or 24.95 – $44.95/Month)

The National Council on Aging ranked Silver Singles as the best dating app for finding a values-based match. The app uses a lifestyle and personality quiz that formulates a compatibility score for each matched profile. Spark Network Services GmbH, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, owns the platform, which went live in 2017.

• Senior Match: ($16 – $34/Month)

Senior Match boasts over one million members and has been in business since 2003. Forbes rated the app as the best platform for older adult online dating newbies.

• Ourtime: ($20.11 – $35.85/Month)

Ourtime is owned by Match Group, which runs numerous other dating sites, including Hinge, Tinder, and Match.com. The site provides no specific membership numbers other than “millions of members.” Retirement Living chose Ourtime as the best dating platform for finding local matches.

Looking for tips on how to write an online dating profile and more? Check out this advice from Senior Planet Sex Columnist Joan Price. 

Why Try Online Dating?

Advantages

Convenience and Accessibility

• Dating platforms allow users to search and meet people from the comfort of their own homes
• You can browse potential matches anytime

 Variety of Options

• Provides access to a wide range of people with diverse backgrounds, interests, and personalities
• Increased opportunities to connect with people you may not meet through in-person interactions

 Efficient Matching

• Algorithms recommend compatible matches based on user preferences and behaviors
• Filter options by age, interests, geography, etc.

Disadvantages

 Misrepresentation

• Outdated or fake photos, exaggerated bios
• Catfishing or phony profiles
• Scammers may work outside the usual online dating fora and attempt to entice on Facebook Hangouts, Instagram or even LinkedIn.

Addictive

• Users can get a “dopamine rush” that comes from receiving a match
• Many users play the odds by dating multiple people, convinced they’ll find someone better

Ghosting and Rejection

• Ghosting – breaking off communication without any explanation
• Lack of matches or frequent rejections

Personal Safety

• Users may be stalked by someone they met online
• Scammers or Con Juans may entice users into a ‘relationship,” building trust before committing financial fraud or identity theft.

Know a housebound/socially isolated senior who could use a lift on Valentine’s Day? This Valentine’s Day, Wish of a Lifetime® from AARP’s Cupid Crew campaign is spreading love and joy to seniors across the nation, ensuring they feel connected and valued. The nationwide initiative mobilizes 25,000 volunteers of all ages to deliver roses and create cards. Join the Cupid Crew by creating heartfelt cards and sharing them with your community! Get details here. 

Want to Try?

If you engage in online dating, prioritize safety by taking precautions.

• Use a Google Voice phone number, which cannot be traced to a user’s address
• Do not post pictures of yourself that you use as public photos on social media, as they can be used in a reverse image search to find your real identity, which may lead to stalking
• If you elect to meet up with someone, take screenshots of his profile and send it to a friend or family beforehand
• Don’t click on any links sent to you by a potential match.
• Don’t fall for it if they want you to move the conversation off the dating platform and onto someplace else, like telegram, whatsapp or Line.   
• A scammer might chat you up and then complain that one of their accounts isn’t working. They’ll ask if they can send their 2FA code to you. Once you let them know the code, you’re actually providing them access to your accounts. 
• Only meet in a busy public place with a well-lit parking lot
• For verification, conduct a reverse image search on photos of any matches

Sadly even the most legitimate dating site can harbor a scammer, and online dating scams target 55- to 64-year-olds more than any other age range. In 2020, older adults lost almost $139 million to dating scams.  Here’s a comprehensive guide from the FTC about spotting and avoiding romance scams and scammers in online dating.  Another scam guide covers sophisticated romance scams that even involve 2FA fraud. 

Your Turn

Have you ever dabbled in online dating? What was your experience? Share it in the comments; we’d love to hear from you!

Deborah Reale is a digital marketing and communications consultant specializing in social media, analytics, content writing, and editing. Ms. Reale has written for Business Development Magazine, Construction Industry Today, and quoted in Investor’s Business Daily and the book Social Media in Action. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a graduate degree in business administration.