TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- More and more people are turning to the Internet to help them find love, and for some it's made all the difference.
Online dating has come a long way since Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan first exchanged emails on the big screen.
Research shows nearly 50 percent of singles in the U.S. have gone looking for love on the internet. For Tallahassee couple Price and Shelly Joines, it eventually paid off.
"I went through a few my friends and their friends and that didn't pan out either, so it's just the natural," said Price.
The two met through Match.com after each being on the site for more than a year. The couple got married in April.
They both say going the digital route has its advantages, especially when it comes to breaking the ice.
"If you're not someone who is comfortable with walking up to random people at the grocery store or at a bar...it's kind of intimidating to do that, so if you're not that person finding someone online, where that gap is already kind of lifted, is easier," said Shelly.
And you have a better idea of who's going to show up once you've actually set a date.
"You get to pre-screen them, like do you have any common interests? You can start off with finding someone that you actually think you may at least have a connection with," said Price.
But online dating can't help with everything - especially when it comes to what you actually do on the big night.
"The first date is still the same, the jitters are still the same, the places you may go and hang out is still the same... it's just that initial interaction," said Shelly.
Price and Shelly both agree that persistence is key. Online Dating Magazine estimates there are more than 2,500 different dating sites, focusing on everything from religion, to a love for animals, and even those Disney fanatics.
And you don't have to be in front of a computer to find love. Dozens of dating apps like Tinder and Bumble are available as well.
"The dating pool available is constantly changing, so if you you're online for a week or a month and you don't find anyone, stay with it," urges Shelly. "We were on there for about a year or so before we met, so you never know who's coming through. Really give it a chance and commit to it."
