The UK's most up-to-date social housing and public sector news website
More people are dating online than ever
More Brits than ever are turning to the internet to find love, new research has revealed.
Fifty-three per cent of Brits admit to registering on an average of two dating websites and 83 per cent have been on a dating site at some point.
For some, it does lead to true love as a third of online daters have had a long-term relationship with someone they met on the internet.
A quarter of people say they are still seeing their internet date with 60 per of those lasting a year or more.
Six per cent of the 3,000 people polled for internet dating site www.topdates.co.uk have even married their online partner.
It seems the main reason Brits are turning to internet dating sites is because of a lack of time with more than one in five saying they simply haven’t got enough time to go out socialising.
A third of people say they look online because they are too shy when they are out in pubs and clubs.
More than 86 per cent of Brits think internet dating has become less of a taboo than it used to be but despite this, 26 per cent of people said they would be too ashamed to admit how they really got together if they were dating someone they met on the internet.
One respondent met her partner online and despite still being together 18 months later, they tell everyone they first clapped eyes on each other in a club.
But there are still some reservations about online dating. Almost two thirds think it is safe but 61 per cent would still be apprehensive about giving their number out.
A spokesman for www.topdates.co.uk said: “Internet dating is becoming more and more popular in our fast moving world but it’s a sad state of affairs when people say they are too busy to go out and socialising.
“However, it can be a great way to meet people online and you can search for people who are into similar things to you or who live nearby.
“Internet dating can also eliminate those first date nerves as you would have spent so much time talking to each you other you may already feel like to know that person before you meet them. In particular, TopDates provides an ‘anonymous dial facility that really helps people get to know one another before they meet.”
Almost two thirds of Brits would be completely happy to marry someone they had met on the internet.
Don't miss the 24dash.com audio bulletins for the latest news and information - http://www.24dash.com/podcasts
