Online Dating Timeline – 1990s to Now!

It has changed so much over the years. So much so that what might have been commonplace only 30 years ago, is now deemed “Old Fashioned”. With the advancement of technology and the changing world around us, let’s take a look at how online dating became what it is today.

Back when everyone was waiting for the news episode of Friends and Full House to come out, times were vastly different than they are now! Dating in the 1990s was a very social affair! Cell phones were just getting to where they were beginning to see widespread use, and the internet… well you’d better have been sure not to have any important phone calls coming in because Dial-Up was your most commonly used way to connect to the internet! Back in those days, it was more common to see couples meet at local eateries and bars, social mixers, or through a friend group. Speed dating was another way to meet a potential partner in those times as well. Dating online was a foreign concept and one that not many adopted given how new the internet was for regular use. Even though there were sites for dating online, many were skeptical. Ah, how things were to change.

The 2000s were a little different and started to change the game when it came to internet communication. In the early 2000s, Dial-Up was replaced by broadband, and the ease of getting on the internet was amazing! Any time of day and no worrying about missed calls! It was quite the game changer and also led to changes on the dating scene. More dating websites, online messaging, and chatrooms came forward and made meeting online easier. All of a sudden, online dating gained steam, and people were chatting with one another on various dating sites.

In the late 2000s, around 07’ and 08’ came the first iPhone and Android phones. Literally, bringing the internet to your fingertips! It was a revolutionary tool that changed everyone’s lives forever. And with these amazing phones, came amazing things they were capable of.

Apps, apps, and more apps! The last 2000s brought amazing devices that could make the internet mobile. With that came the ability of unlimited texting and data! Bring your social media platforms with you and be able to message anyone on the go at any time. Dating websites were going strong as the platforms began to shift. Every website at this point had begun to make an app to make dating easier and chatting instant! Apps that may not have been noticed, were gaining more momentum. Gone were the days of calling someone and leaving a message. Communication with a potential interest was fast, easy, and seamless. More and more people, especially younger generations, joined the dating app crowd and made the pool of possible partners larger! Websites were also made for people with particular religious views, age brackets, and more. Online dating had expanded and was alive and well.

Now we reach today, the year 2022. So much has changed over the past 30 years. Online dating and dating apps are now the most popular way to meet a spouse, and with over 5,000 dating sites and apps worldwide, there is little wonder why it has become such a popular means to meet a potential spouse! There is also the convenient availability to be able to connect with people easily with social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Also, with the rise of the COVID-19 Pandemic, online dating has become the safest way to meet people, without risking all parties’ health and safety. Leading to many, Zoom and Skype dates that are no longer exclusively for long-distance couples.

So much has happened and so much has changed over the years. It can make us wonder what will happen in the next decade! No matter what one thing will be the same. Online dating will be there and ready when you are.