02/10/10
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Many finding love online
It seems that Cupid's arrow may look more like a pointer on an internet page these days, according to a recent study at Stanford University. But those looking for love online may not match the image some have in mind when thinking of the tech-savvy lovelorn masses. In fact, the study found that gay men, lesbians and middle-aged heterosexuals are most likely to use their computers as matchmaking machines. But these groups are not as dissimilar as they may seem on first blush. Study author andStanford sociologist Michael Rosenfeld said that these groups are the least likely to rely on traditional avenues of finding love, such as family, workplace and neighborhood. “People still meet romantic partners in those places, but it seems to be less common,” said Rosenfeld. “The Internet is displacing those classic venues.” The study found that of the 3,000 participants, 61 percent of gay respondents met their partners online during the past two years, compared with 23 percent of heterosexual couples. Of those heterosexual couples, those aged 35 and 44 met most often online (23 percent). Meanwhile, those typically thought to be most active online, the 18 to 24 age group met online least often, the study found.