We had video dating in the 1980s, then online dating started in 1995.

I disagree that online dating makes dating more convenient because we work 8 to 5 jobs etc.,. I'm Gen X and I grew up without any technology as did the generations prior to me. None of them required online dating apps to date or marry their spouses.

Over the past forty years, digital media has altered the modern workplace, the family household, the way we interact socially, the way we date, listen to music, grocery shop, etc. There's no going back now.

Having experienced online dating for five years, using eHarmony, Match, OkCupid, and *gasp* Plenty of Fish, those were five miserable years. I met every type of "Mr. Wrong" there is, while online dating: the over-50-bachelor, the-online-guy (he just wants to email and text but never wants to commit to plans offline with you), the pathological liar guy (his photos are either fake or really old, and he lies about everything written in his profile), the come-on-strong-fast-and-fade-quickly guy (why buy the cow when you get the milk for free, applies here), the narcissist guy, the verbal abusive guy, the physical abusive guy, the unemployed guy, the alcoholic guy, the druggie guy.

I think if I got involved with Meetups again or other social groups for my community (sports, etc.) I may meet a single, normal, guy. I will never do online dating ever again. Why should I pay some algorithm $55/month so I can view fake-online profiles of men (which probably make up at least half of the online dating profiles for men), or spend hours crafting great emails to men who either never respond, respond with tepid interest, or respond and then back-out at the last minute for a first date plan? I will never put myself through that hell again. That was 5 years and $3300 total that I could have saved for a fantastic overseas vacation somewhere. No way will I waste a dime on online dating websites or even free online dating websites again.