Romance Goes Digital in Latest Zagat Dating & Dumping Survey

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zagat released its latest Dating & Dumping survey today. The results indicate a tremendous shift in how people approach dating. Available exclusively at www.ZAGAT.com/datinganddumping, the downloadable guides present location-specific editions for New York, Los Angeles and Chicago showcasing the best restaurants, bars and other hot spots to love 'em or leave 'em. The surveys also reveal information about dating preferences, pet peeves and horror stories.

"Dating in the digital age of smartphones and social networking has dramatically changed the romantic landscape," said Nina Zagat, Co-Founder of Zagat Survey. "Nowadays, people are searching for and planning everything online – from choosing a restaurant, to travel arrangements, reservations and now, their love lives!"

Oh, How Things Have Changed: Since Zagat's inaugural Dating and Dumping Survey in 2009, the dating scene has experienced a significant shift with the rise in mobile technology, online dating and social networking. This year's 2011 Survey reveals that 34% of respondents prefer to make a date via e-mail, text message or social networking instead of the old-fashioned phone call. In contrast, in 2009, 53% of respondents preferred to initiate a date in person, 35% preferred over the phone, while only a small minority of 9% said via e-mail. What's more, 52% of surveyors confessed to "Googling" a prospective date, and 41% said they used Facebook to snoop around their date's information and check out photos.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker: For a potential partner, surveyors say the most important characteristics are Intelligence (84%), Personality (82%) and Sense of Humor (81%), followed by Values (70%), Attractiveness (63%) and Sexual Compatibility (60%.)

First Dates. How and Where: The Survey provided a number of hints for a successful first date. In the "how to meet someone" category, respondents preferred family and friends by a 25% plurality, followed by online 19%, random encounters 14%, through hobbies and activities 12%, work 12% and bars 10%. As for ideal first-date settings, 45% of respondents suggested restaurants, 17% said "over coffee," 13% picked a bar, 9% recommended a party or social occasion and 8% suggested an outdoor activity.

Going Online for Potential Dates: When asked which online websites proved most successful for meeting potential dates, surveyors picked the following in order: Match.com (39%), eHarmony (30%), JDate (20%), OKCupid (14%) and Facebook (10%). However, 66% of respondents say they are concerned that the date they get online won't have "the face-to-face spark" that they were hoping for; Fifty-eight percent worry about the date looking different from his or her profile picture; and 32% suspect that their prospective date may be lying about his or her age.

That's a Deal-breaker: Whoever coined the phrase that "love knows no bounds" must not have been a registered voter. According to the Survey, people are more likely to date outside their income bracket (88%), nationality (88%), religion (85%) and age group (79%) than outside their political party (74%), but that person better be nearby since 43% won't date outside their local area.

Dos and Don'ts for a First Date:

• DON'T over-share; 85% say that discussing relationship history is on a "need-to-know basis."
• DON'T text from the table; 66% say texting or tweeting is a big "no-no."
• DON'T have a wandering eye; 28% say it's a bad call.
• DON'T show up late; 20% think it's rude.
• DO offer to pay if you've initiated the date (regardless of gender); 39% say it's the right thing to do!

Rounding the Bases: When it comes to getting cozy with a significant other, a commanding 87% believe that a relationship should become intimate "whenever it feels right." And in a losing effort to preserve old-fashioned standards, only 2% of surveyors believe in waiting until marriage.

Get Me Out of Here: When the time comes to end a particularly bad date, 73% opt for a goodbye wave or handshake instead of a kiss, 11% would ask for the check early and 8% would either fake an important call and leave or simply "look bored."

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Break-ups are never easy, but in the age of digital communication, there are more ways than ever to end a relationship. Surveyors admitted to breaking up via e-mail (21%), text message (11%), voicemail (8%) and Facebook (2%).

Get Over It:  For those scorned lovers, 43% of respondents say the best way to move on is to have a rebound fling, while alternative reactions ranged from "crying and listening to sad music" (17%), "drowning your sorrows with alcohol" (13%), to "burning your ex's things" (5%), and for (1%), "hooking up with his/her best friend!"

Dating and Dumping Guide Survey Details: Zagat's 2011 Dating & Dumping Guide incorporates the stories of love and loss from 541 opinionated daters. Of these, 65% are women and 35% are men. Among them, 45% are single and open to meeting someone; 33% are dating and/or in a relationship; and 21% are married. As with all Zagat surveys, full results as well as the restaurant ratings and reviews can be accessed online at ZAGAT.com. Be sure to follow Zagat on Facebook and Twitter @Zagat for daily news and updates.

About Zagat Survey, LLC

Known as the "burgundy bible," Zagat Survey is the world's most trusted source for consumer-generated survey information. With a worldwide network of surveyors, Zagat rates and reviews restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf, shopping and a range of other entertainment categories and is lauded as the "most up-to-date," "comprehensive" and "reliable" guide, published on all platforms. Zagat content is available to consumers wherever and whenever they need it: on ZAGAT.com, ZAGAT.mobi, ZAGAT TO GO for smartphones and in book form.

SOURCE Zagat Survey, LLC