Worrying about being “catfished”, and discovering you have little in common with your date, are among the biggest pitfalls of online dating – according to singletons over 40.
Almost a third (31%) of adults aged 40-plus, who are not in a relationship, have had a go at online dating, according to a poll of 750 Brits in this age group.
But three-quarters of those (74%) have struggled to find a partner in this way – with three in five (59%) claiming a lack of digital skills has hindered them in their pursuit.
And over half of respondents (54%) said they can't “get their head around” the apps – with almost one in five (18%) admitting they are “scared” to try dating over the internet.
Other top concerns about digital dating include not knowing how to take the perfect profile picture, and not having a clue what to write in their “about me” section.
And being scammed by their date is a common worry – as is simply being able to recognise them in real life, having never met them before.
The research was commissioned by Virgin Media O2, to help improve the nation’s digital skills through Get Online Week.
TV personality, comedian, and presenter, Judi Love, 42, is backing the campaign, having struggled with online dating herself.
She said: “Online dating when you’re over 40 can be a minefield – from finding the right app for you, creating the right profile, taking your best picture, and making conversation with different personalities you meet online.
“Get Online Week is a great opportunity to brush up on your online skills and develop your digital mojo, to gain confidence and put yourself out there.
“If you’re looking for love, it’s never too late to start.”
The study also found that almost half (46%) of those who have experimented with online dating feel it is “a young person’s game” – with 15% of those polled claiming not to know what swiping left or right means.
And more than one in ten don't know how to create a dating profile (12%) or take a profile pic (14%).
Further drawbacks to online dating include discovering a date’s bio details are inaccurate, and realising the “spark” they’d had when conversing online was non-existent in person.
But the study, carried out through OnePoll, found 20% claim not to know how to meet someone in “real life”.
Nicola Green, at Virgin Media O2, added: “We’re proudly partnering with Good Things Foundation to help the nation to improve their digital skills during Get Online Week.
“We hope our free digital skills masterclasses being held across the UK, plus Judi’s top tips, will give singletons the confidence to try online dating and find the love of their lives.”
To find out more about Get Online Week, and see Judi Love’s top online dating tips, click here.
TOP 10 PITFALLS OF ONLINE DATING – ACCORDING TO THOSE AGED 40-PLUS:
- Knowing how to spot a “catfish”
- Fears they have set up a fake identity
- Discovering their bio details aren't accurate
- Worrying about being scammed
- Discovering you have little in common with a date, despite their bio suggesting otherwise
- Realising there was no “spark” upon meeting in real life
- Knowing what red flags to look out for when dating online
- Finding out they are dating lots of other people at the same time
- Concerns the other person won't resemble their profile pic
- Dates being much older in appearance than their profile pic suggests
