Watch CBS News

Online Dating: What Most People Are Doing Wrong

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - There are millions of singles out there and millions of them are dating online. But not everyone is lucky in online love.

With one in 10 Americans online-dating, there should be plenty of potential mates, but that can be part of the problem if you can't find a match.

"We have a lot more choices available to us, and that should be a good thing, but it makes it much more challenging," says Carnegie Mellon University marketing professor Chris Olivola. He studies how people make decisions.

When it comes to online dating, you might have a better chance at love if you let someone else pick your match.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

"What we found in our research is that when people choose for other people, they tend to make rational big picture choices that they wouldn't even make for themselves," says Olivola.

That's right, friends and family members can be great matchmakers.

"They can more clearly pinpoint the things that matter to you and you tend to get distracted by all the things and past experiences and hang ups and that can lead you to make choices that just don't make sense for you," says marketing professor Cait Lamberton.

Experts say you should also have your friends and family help you write your online dating profile and pick the photos you use online.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.