In a recent survey, we asked couples (N=1407) if they met online or not; if they did meet online, where did they meet; and if they did not meet online, how did they meet. In our first question, “Did you meet your spouse-to-be online?” 16% (1 in 6) said yes they did, while 84% said no, they did not meet their spouse-to-be online.
Of those who did meet online, 1 in 10, the highest percentage (65%), met on an online dating site (searching a person’s profile). The next highest percentage, 1 in 50 or 14%, met on a social networking site (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.).5%, or 1 in 125, of those who indicated they met online met in an online chat room. 3%, or 1 in 200 met though online gaming or in a virtual world. 1 in 313, or 2% indicated they met their soon-to-be-spouse in either through a personal/classified ad or on an online forum, bulletin board, or in an online community. Just 1%, or 1 in 625, met on a personal website/blog, or through direct contact via email or messaging. 6%, or 1 in 100 met their spouse-to-be online in a way not mentioned above.
For those surveyed who did not meeting their spouse-to-be online, the majority of those surveyed, 22% or 1 in 6 indicated they were introduced by a friend. 18% or 1 in 7 met their significant other in college/university. 16%, or 1 in 8 of those who did not meet their spouse-to-be online, met them where they work or worked in the past. 8%, or 1 in 14 met in a bar, pub, or club. 7%, or 1 in 17 has known their significant other since childhood. 5%, or 1 in 25 met one another in high school. 4% or 1 in 33* met at a house party or some kind of social party. 3%, or 1 in 33* were either introduced by a family member or met in church. 2% or 1 in 50 met at some sort of large social event, through a shared hobby/voluntary group, or at a public space. 1%, or 1 in 100 met one another in their neighborhood. 6%, or 1 in 20 met their spouse-to-be in a way not mentioned above but not online.
*Rounded, both 4% and 3% came out to 1 in 33.