What kind of people do I meet on dating sites?

Who registers with dating sites? Where can I meet the type of single that interests me and suits me? We'll tell you!

When the dating sites started at the end of the 1990s, it was indeed mainly young, tech-savvy people from urban areas who were active in online dating. The general public found online dating somewhat alienating. 

But today we live in the year 2024 - and the situation has changed completely:

Petra Frömsdorf
Expert since 2003
The members of all dating sites together provide a fairly accurate reflection of real society.

Singles of all ages and from all professions now use online dating. In 2000, only around 2% of singles were looking for a partner online, now it is already over 50%. The world has become more digital and so have people. The singles you meet on dating sites today are people just like you and me. 

People you can meet on dating sites

Singles looking for a partner:
The majority of users of dating sites are actively looking for a romantic relationship. These singles are looking for a long-term relationship or a spouse on a dating site such as be2.

Adventurous people:
More and more singles are using dating sites such as C-Date to look for casual encounters or adventures without commitment. They are interested in fun and non-binding dates.

Seniors:
There are now several specialized senior dating sites for older adults 50 plus who are looking for partnerships in old age. These platforms, such as Singles50 or Ourtime, focus on the needs and interests of older people.

    LGBTQ+ community:
    There are dating sites that are specifically aimed at the LGBTQ+ community in order to bring people with different sexual orientations and gender identities together.

    Single parents:
    Many single parents use dating to meet other single parents and possibly build a relationship that works for their family.

    Active singles:
    There are platforms that focus on singles who have little time for dating due to their professional lives, such as doctors, business people or other busy professionals.

    People with specific interests:
    Some dating sites are geared towards specific interest groups, such as people with shared hobbies, religions or cultural backgrounds.

    International singles:
    On international dating sites you can meet people from different countries and cultures, giving you the opportunity to forge international relationships.

    Experimental singles:
    Some people use dating sites to gain new experiences, make new friends or expand their social contacts.

    Three questions will lead you to the dating site with the right singles for you

    In your search for the right dating site, you should have three simple questions in mind when you read through test reports or when you land on the homepage of a dating site:

    • Flirt or love?
      The motto "Easily meet new people" appeals to different singles than "Find your life partner".
    • For which target group?
      What is the name of the site? Who is it aimed at? "For academics"? Or is it colourful and advertises with a hip slogan? If so, it is more likely to attract young singles.
    • How expensive?
      The price determines how serious the other singles you meet online are. And it determines which social class the members come from. Free flirting apps are more for people on a budget, while high-priced dating agencies are for singles with the means.

    Of course, not every dating site that is expensive is also particularly good. However, we have found that the high-priced sites - most of which you will recognise from advertising - also offer more:

    • Women are treated with more respect and are less "annoyed" 
    • and men are more likely to receive a reply to emails.

    The proof of the pudding is in the eating

    Don't worry about which dating site your perfect match is waiting for you on. It's much easier to simply try out a few dating sites for FREE:

    • Register with 2-4 dating sites.
    • See what singles from your region are registered there.
    • Wait a few days to see who writes to you.

    You remain anonymous, invest no more than an hour and will find out which dating site offers the best opportunities for you, because there are singles waiting for you who might suit you.

    And only then do you take the next step:

    • Create a meaningful profile with a good photo
    • Take out a subscription and actively communicate with other singles
    • Meet singles in real life

    You can find out how to proceed most skilfully in the next guide articles below...


    Petra Frömsdorf
    Petra Frömsdorf
    Petra has been monitoring the world of online dating sites since 2003. In the media she is considered the leading expert on the topic of "online dating".