Press Release Body = Susan Gladstone\'s moment came when she turned 50. Divorced, with two children, she was getting tired of asking friends to fix her up and being told they just couldn\'t think of anyone. And so, she turned to online dating. Two and a half years and dozens of dates later, Gladstone, an event planner in Miami, hasn\'t yet found her soulmate. But she\'s had lots of enjoyable dinner dates, met fascinating people from around the globe, and made a number of lasting friendships. Gladstone is part of a growing trend: people in their 50s and beyond searching the Internet for romance, companionship, sometimes marriage. As in any age group, there are ups and downs. There\'s the old stale-photo trick (it\'s him, but 20 years and 30 pounds ago), or the date who asks right away how much money you have, or the ones who say how fabulous you are and then disappear. The main reason more mature singles are going online for love is simple: more widespread access to the Internet, hence more familiarity with online dating. And dating sites are catering to older members. Yahoo Personals, for example, has an advice column for users over 50, with tips -- on everything from etiquette to sexual health -- for those whose romantic radar may be a tad rusty. Another reason: \"Baby boomers are seeing their children use online dating, and watching their success at finding mates,\" said Rochelle Adams, spokesperson for Yahoo Personals. \"They\'re seeing that it\'s not such a crazy concept.\" Match.com, another large online dating site, says boomers which it defines as ages 45-59 are its fastest growing segment, having increased by 350 per cent since 2000, and now numbering 1.7 million. Spokesperson Kristin Kelly said older users tend to be much clearer and more realistic about what they want. \"There\'s no substitute for the wisdom gained with age.\" Claudia Polley, who was briefly married, then widowed, certainly knows what she wants. The beauty of online dating, says the 56-year-old museum consultant from Washington, D.C., is that you can tell right away if someone can write well. \"If they can\'t spell, and they start out with \'Hiya!\', I wish them a wonderful life, but not with me.\" For inspiration, she has her daughter who met her husband online. The first grandchild is due in July. Rudy DiLieto is one of the rarer ones. At 51, he\'s never married. A New Yorker who works in the fashion industry, he simply enjoyed his independence too much. Now, he goes on at least 10 Internet dates a year. Jeffrey Balash, a divorced 57-year-old private capital investor in Los Angeles, can\'t even count how many online dates he\'s had. Logging on is a daily habit. Latest updates on online dating is brought to you by http://www.datingservices-online.net.
2022
