For a monthly fee, dating sites claim they'll do the math for you and spit out your soul mate in return.

A common complaint shared by seasoned online daters who have tried various dating sites is that, rarely do the multitude of matchmaking services live up to their claims.

Today, nearly half of the public knows someone who uses online dating or who has met a spouse or partner via online dating – and attitudes toward online dating have grown progressively more positive.

To be sure, many people remain puzzled that someone would want to find a romantic partner online – 23% of Americans agree with the statement that “people who use online dating sites are desperate” – but in general it is much more culturally acceptable than it was a decade ago.

Technology and competition for this lucrative market has made a mockery of it.

To the average person, thanks to bad press and other contributing factors, online dating has become somewhat of an un-trusted source for meeting people.