New research from eharmony has today revealed that online dating is no longer solely the past time of millennials. In fact, there’s been a boom in mature singles (50+) signing up to online dating services and usage has doubled since 2010.

Relationships on Female First

Relationships on Female First

Nearly half (43%) of these mature singles are returning to dating following divorce, a prospect that many find daunting.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. We talked to eharmony expert Verity Hogan to find out her top tips for looking for love online, along with advice from real couples.

Celebrate your age

Don’t hide your age, embrace it! Not only are you much better at judging other people, but you also know yourself much better. The same goes when choosing your profile photo. It can be tempting to choose a tried-and-tested old favourite but you want someone that’s interested in the real you. Honesty is always the best policy.  

Know what you are looking for 

Think about the kind of lifestyle you’d like in the future and ask yourself whether the person you’re dating would fit into that vision. You may find that the things you want from a partner now are very different to the things you were looking for when you were younger. Try to get a sense of your date’s social life and how they like to spend their free time too – are you a compatible match?

Step outside your comfort zone

If you feel emotionally ready to start online dating, why wait? We often hear from happy couples who wish they hadn’t waited so long. If you’re nervous, open up to your loved ones. Friends and grown-up children can be a great source of support (and a good judge of character!) Embrace as many opportunities as possible; it may be nerve-wracking at first, but the reality of dating in your 50s will be much easier than you imagine. 

Have fun

Don’t forget that dating is supposed to be fun. Make sure that you go on dates that you’ll enjoy and pick venues that you’re excited to visit. One of the best things about dating in your 50s is that you have years of experience to draw from so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Relax and focus on meeting new people and having new adventures.

Chris (56) who met his partner Lorriane online at eharmony adds:

‘If you’re planning a date with someone you have matched with online, you should have a look at their profile and base the date around what they have said they particularly like on there. What I would say to all the guys out there is don’t think about yourself, think about the lady and what she would enjoy to make the date a success. With my partner Lorraine, I knew that she loved good food because her son is a top chef so I took her out to a really lovely restaurant that she really appreciated. We then went to a bar and danced and chatted and had the best night. By our third meeting I had proposed because I just knew she was the woman for me!’


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