Majority of singles meeting partners online

Attitudes towards online dating have changed over the last few years making meeting people online a mainstream activity, it has been revealed.

New research by online dating site forcespenpals.co.uk states that 80 per cent of singles in the UK are now using web-based matchmaking services to search for partners.

By comparison, just 11 per cent of singles have used speed dating, the study involving more than 500 people by the social networking and relationships website for armed forces personnel found.

The research revealed that 29 per cent of people have been set up on blind dates, while only two per cent admitted to trying swinging as a way of meeting new people.

According to forcespenpals.co.uk managing director Bruno Mustone, it is not unusual that many people are now meeting online in light of increasing web access in the UK.

"With such a vast choice of dating sites available, users can choose to meet people with similar interests, giving them a much better chance of forming a solid relationship than if they were to meet somebody in a pub or club," he said.

"The internet enables daters to meet people around the World, rather than just from their local area, increasing their chances or meeting Mr or Miss right.

"Online daters also face much less pressure than face-to-face daters as they can chat online for as long as they feel necessary, really getting to know each other before the first date has even taken place."

However, despite the popularity of online dating, traditional attributes such as a good sense of humour have not been discarded.

Those polled admitted that having a good sense of humour is the most vital thing singles look for in a partner, with 22 per cent saying that a shared sense of this attribute is crucial for success.

Affection and kind-heartedness were judged the second and third most important thing in the poll, which found that nearly 60 per cent of respondents believed that getting to know an individual's personality is most important.

Set up in 2003, the online dating site claims to have more than 100,000 active members eager to meet other singles looking for friendship or romance.

Elsewhere, an online dating site specialising in matchmaking services for the older generation has said Christmas need not be a lonely time for those aged between 40 and 65 years.

Fun At Fifty has revealed that it has "an extensive database of members who are already receiving the benefit of mature online dating" as they meet like-minded people for everything including friendship, love and true romance.

Those using the online dating site are enjoying services such as social networking, email messaging, live chat, local and national member search facilities, diary blogging and even personal horoscopes.