Not since the emergence of speed dating has there been such a stir on the singleton scene. From one-off dalliances to long-term partners, online dating is proving to be a successful route to romance and is taking the world of unattached Britons by storm.
XCity took to the streets of London to find out what people think about online dating. One city professional said that London is “the city of loneliness” and for this reason she would try online dating. Others described how they met through social media music site Myspace – and are now married.
Not all dates result in marriage though. There is still some margin for error, and as one online dater pointed out, there “definitely are some sleazy people online”.
Dating websites include profile pictures and lists of interests, which provide an easy way to assess compatibility, but how can users find out about a potential partner’s political views, cultural interests or reading habits (and make sure they avoid the sleazebags)?
It’s not just dedicated dating sites such as Match Affinity and Mysinglefriend.com that are in the business of online matchmaking – magazines and newspapers are staking a claim in some of the success stories too. Sites such as Guardian Soulmates bring people together who believe that what they read says something about them.
Watch XCity’s video to find out the opinions of both experienced and would-be internet daters and read more about how media companies are setting up their own dating sites in XCity 2012, out on Monday.
Video by Kate Lloyd, Pete Ellender and Nicola Merrifield
Soundtrack: En la Brisa by Dan O’Connor
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