Online dating is becoming very popular now.

An estimated 1 in 5 Americans are signed up to an online dating service meaning that, theoretically, if you're after a new date or just making new friends, you can have the pick of the bunch! Many busy Americans now increasingly rely on online dating service providers to find their matches.

No wonder, Internet has brought people of the world so closer and new concept of "speed dating" is evolved through internet dating to find a mate or simply a casual date.

Jessica Moore, in her mid-20s from New York City is one of the millions who are daily looking for date online. With her ravishing personality, it was not difficult for her to get "Mr. Right" for her. But she says online dating service provides her choice to select her "type" of person she could think of hanging out.

"Online dating sites help me to find someone from my location, the one who is doing his own business, having yearly income of not less than $150,000, who is a practicing Catholic Christian visiting church at least on every Sunday, someone who is a non-smoker and occasional drinker, and of course, who is serious in long term relationship", Jessica told.

According to industry expert, nearly 23 million people in the U.S. search online to find a date. One of the market leader companies, nearly 60,000 people, such as Jessica sign online daily. Other dating firms claim 10-15,000 people register their profiles at their sites.

As Jessica was going through her closet to find her favorite red long skirt, which she bought on her recent birthday, she told how she was feeling excited to meet with whom she has been dating online for couple of weeks. "When I came to New York city, I didn't know much about the city, its people. All I know about the city was that I saw it in movies, television or read," she said. "So, I just wanted to mingle with people, make new friends. Then I thought why shouldn't I give a chance to online dating. Maybe I can find someone who will of my interest," she smiled.

Jessica's colleagues, however, were skeptical of her dating online, since she told them she preferred traditional dating rather than internet dating.

"One fine evening, you see someone at cafe' or bar, you smile and you get positive response. Then you do some trick to get ball rolling. This all happens in traditional training; however, online dating is a different ball game." She acclaimed. "The advantage of online dating is that you know other person is equally interested in you. You do not need to try as hard as in traditional dating," she advised.

Though internet dating is not a new concept, it all started since the internet came into existence. In the beginning, people thought online dating as too hasty approach or too shallow. However, recent boom in online dating has proved them wrong. This could only be possible due to change in people's attitude towards online dating and their acceptance for online dating as a new mean of meeting people.