Breaking up offline is harder than breaking up online, and that's why online daters tend to think that if they breakup with an online date via an online dating site, that somehow this is easier and more pain-free.  If something isn't clicking and you want to break up with someone you met on an internet dating site, then there are humane ways to do it. 

Listen, don't beat yourself up if something isn't working and you need to end it.  If you do it in the right way, you can seriously minimize the hurt to the other online dater.  Take a look at these tips, and apply them when necessary.  Mostly, keep in mind that you've been broken-up with as well in the past; we all have, and remember then how you would have wanted to be treated.

First of all, don't drag the thing out longer than it needs to be.  If you're communicating through the online dating site, then don't drag on paragraph after paragraph of explanations.  Make it simple, heartfelt, and clear.  When it's over its over, so don't delay the inevitable or talk with them online for longer than you need to.

It's important to be honest with the online dater that you're breaking up with.  You help your partner more by being honest than making-up excuses that they'll never believe.  Tell them truthfully what didn't work, and that way they have a better idea of what to look for on their next online date.  And seriously, don't start seeing another person on your online dating site before you break up.  Don't be seeing multiple people until you've told one of them that it doesn't work. That is just cruel.  It seriously makes you look bad and is bad dating karma on these internet dating sites.

Don't expect the person to want to be your friend after you break up with them online.  Most times, people are quite hurt and won't be able to be your friend; certainly not right away.  You need to give it time, and slowly move on to dating other people on the online dating site.

There's always the big question about whether to call someone or talk to them online through the online dating site.  I say it depends upon how deep the relationship went.  If you got very close after meeting on an internet dating site, then I suggest you call them or talk to them in person to share the news.  If you went on one or two dates with an online dater and decided you don't want to pursue it further, then you can contact them via the internet dating site to break the news.  No matter what medium you use, do it gently and swiftly.

I encourage you not to think you can be callous when communicating via the internet dating site.  Just because it's online doesn't mean that people's feelings aren't involved.  Be just as gentle as you would be if you hadn't met the person through an online matchmaking site.  Give people the respect they deserve online and offline.