Modern Dating

In San Diego, Beth S. had dated lots of men. Online dating, church groups, Meetup groups. "I met some really nice people, but it just wasn't clicking."

It was speed dating that stirred the magic. The night she met Carmen -- the six or seven minutes they first spent together -- sparks flew. "He had me in stitches the entire time,'' says Beth (who asked that only her first name be used). Their wedding date is coming up soon.

Online dating was fine, "but you can make the mistake of spending too much time getting to know someone online. Then when you meet, there's no spark," she tells WebMD.

Speed dating events -- like 8 Minute Dating -- offer one-on-one face time with several eligibles in one evening. "With speed dating, you get enough time to cover the most important points -- and see if there's any chemistry at all," Beth says.

She's not the only one to move beyond online dating. Joe Tracy, publisher of Online Dating Industry Journal, has tracked the industry since 2003. Across the industry -- among Match.com and its competitors -- "the online dating segment has kind of plateaued," he tells WebMD.

Niche dating sites -- such as VeggieDate, GolfMates, TrekPassions, FarmersOnly -- have gained popularity in recent years. "The really great thing about those, you're sharing a passion," says Tracy. "The slogan for FarmersOnly is, 'Because city folks just don't get it.'"

But social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, and Orkut have also boomed, Tracy adds. These sites let you post a profile, get creative with videos and music, and email, chat, and IM with members. They also offer loads of online groups with thousands of members globally -- many of whom are over age 35.

While Facebook appeals to under-30 types, the MySpace demographic has slowly shifted upward. The most recent stats show 40% of MySpace visitors ranging from 35 to 54 years old.

Activity groups -- such as hiking, skiing, dining, running, wine tasting, and church groups -- have long been staples of the singles scene. They're still out there in full force.

The new guys in town are Meetup groups -- volunteer-organized special interest groups. Since 2002, some 40,000 Meetup groups have sprung up in major (and minor) cities. These aren't singles groups, but they are a chance to meet people with similar interests -- and who knows where that might go? The age range runs the gamut, but tends to skew toward late 20s to 40s.

"Group activities are the No. 1 way to meet people," says Terri Orbuch, PhD, a therapist and researcher with the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. "You have similar interests, so conversation is easy, comfortable. And the more contact you have with someone, the more you're going to like them. Familiarity breeds liking."