It's easy to meet people in this world. You see hundreds, if not more, per day. You communicate through E-mail. On the phone. In person at the mall. At the fast-food restaurant down the street. But only a small percentage of the people you meet become more than a simple person in passing. Many are married. Or taken. Others don't want a relationship. Or are not attractive to you. Finding someone with an online dating service is an option that is now familiar to most. If you don't mind putting your faith in the Web, you might find someone through the Internet as well.

The Internet has gotten a lot of bad publicity over the years. Especially when it comes to getting people together. The news is full of stories of people being killed by someone they met on the Internet. Or of kids killing their parents because they were prohibited from traveling to see someone they met on the Internet. But these stories don't represent the true face of Internet dating. These stories are just more appealing to the reading or viewing public than those stories of finding true love online. Online dating services can be the safest place to meet that potential mate. Safer sometimes than finding someone in your everyday life.

Many online dating services are free. There are still some that charge membership fees. Or a fee to access the full site. Most, however, still have free areas for singles looking for a date or long-term commitment. These sites usually don't do anything for you but provide the community. You have to write the profile. You also have to "network." This means answering messages. And writing to those you're interested in. And keeping your profile active and up-to-date.

Using an online dating service does have its disadvantages. There isn't much of a chance for face-to-face communication. And without being able to see each other, it's hard to interpret emotion. Or personality. Emoticons help some, but they can still be misconstrued. Also, the time that you have to spend on the Internet can be immense. This only serves to isolate you from the real world. And the dating scene outside of your own home.

With all of the negatives of online dating, there are still some positives. People using modern online dating services can use video and audio methods to screen potential mates. Watching a person on video can give you an idea of how they are. Without the need to meet in person. Facial expressions, gestures and body movements all play a part in learning a person's temperament. For busy adults, video dating online can be a time-saver. And a good way to meet someone special.

Surely, the online dating service will continue to diversify and expand. Online sites will become larger and more complex. Site members will grow. This, in turn, will increase the odds of searchers finding love online. While online dating may never receive the respect that face-to-face techniques warrant, it does demand acknowledgment for what it is: a viable alternative to meeting in person, intended for busy adults.