Today’s computer-savvy seniors are taking chances at finding love – or at least friendship and companionship – online.

Online dating websites such as PlentyofFish.com, eHarmony.com and Match.com provide opportunities for single seniors 50+ to introduce themselves and chat right from the safety and privacy of home. Even the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has gotten into the act, launching dating.aarp.org as a service to its senior members.

A recent AARP survey revealed that seniors embracing online dating do it to meet a broader range of people than they would otherwise. Some active seniors say they simply have no time to meet potential dates through traditional means. It is the perfect way to check out opportunities without making a face-to-face commitment. Many say they tried meeting online because a friend or family member encouraged them to give it a go.

That was the case with Barbara Moore of Murrells Inlet. A retired social worker, Moore found herself being the “odd person” at gatherings after her husband passed away in 2008.