Our world is getting increasingly busier, and we are invariably becoming dependent on computers and the Internet. Every conceivable aspect of our lives is now computerized in some manner. With the amount of time we spend on computers, it's a forgone conclusion that this medium has become a magnet for people looking for love.

Not too long ago, you had to go against the grain to have a profile on a dating website. Today, the stigma is gone. Online personals has gone mainstream and now accepted by all and sundry.

The appeal of dating online can be attributed to the fact that one can communicate with people ranging from a next door neighbor you didn't know was looking, to people living thousands of miles away. Sometimes the bee has to travel deep into the woods to find the sweetest nectar. In that regard, only online dating puts you in close proximity with remote users all in one place.

Online dating has also become an oyster for the shy. While some are naturally blessed with confidence, that first approach is a nightmare for the shy among us. Meeting people in real life is almost ritualistic where the male puts on a show for the female he's interested in. In that atmosphere, only certain pronounced ( mostly shallow ) characteristics enjoy any level of success, leaving the timid behind.

Dating online is changing things however. Generally, by the time online friends decide to meet in person, they've already broken the ice, personal characteristics have been scrutinized with discerning eyes, and they likely have both established a comfort zone. This more or less levels the playing field, particularly giving the shy a fighting chance. You are less likely to be rejected at a first meeting, if you've already been talking to the person online for sometime.

Be it as it may that there are time-wasters online, nobody can argue with the fact that traditional dating methods cannot hold a candle to finding singles online in terms of the number of hookups.

Online dating has become a major force in our lives as we search for that elusive needle in a haystack in our technologically-driven world. This trend is likely to grow in popularity as more and more people come online.

Richard Akindele is the Founder of http://www.oasisoflove.com, a full-featured, and FREE online dating site.