Before all these advancements came to fruition, however, people used all sorts of methods to find companionship in the big, wide world. We’ve trawled through the history of dating and found that the online version really isn’t that different. Let’s take a look…

Making a Mark

Working on the land is a lonely job, and since it’s been a part of human activity for thousands of years, there’s no surprise that many countries exhibit tree carvings from centuries-old shepherds who yearned for company.

From pioneering American settlers to hardy Scandinavians, there’s a pattern of stories and messages left on the trunks of forests around the world, from men who were isolated for months on end. So if you stumble across a tree carving on your next walk in the woods, keep an eye out for Cupid overhead…

Sweat the Small Stuff

The first newspapers didn’t start circulating in the UK till about 1690, and it took a little time for personal ads to start making their way into the back pages. The first recorded Lonely Hearts column was placed by a woman in Manchester, who was promptly sent to a mental institution for trying to express her mind.

Code words and double meanings – not a million miles away from emojis, eh? – were vital for homosexuals in this age too. Although a lot of these early ads were based on how rich you wanted your partner to be, things gradually changed once the Victorians fostered more open attitudes to love and relationships.

Staying Careful

As the turbulence of the 1960’s got underway, college newspapers were printing a lot of new-fangled student philosophy. Dating ads were extremely prevalent too, despite having a cloud of suspicion hanging over them – was it communist propaganda, or the cops trying to bust a group of free and single hippies?

British police kept trying to arrest people who placed these ads, thinking they were sex workers, but the trend took off despite the efforts of the authorities.

Back to the Future

The computer, though, was primed to take over. Harvard scientists created Operation Match in 1965, a programme that claimed to find dates through a questionnaire for the staggering sum of $3. This was the start of the internet revolution, the beginning of a landslide in romantic achievements that brings us right up to the present day. 

People have always been reaching across oceans of space and time for that perfect someone. And thanks to the internet, it’s never been easier to make this work. We should feel privileged; hundreds of years of dating experience has gotten us here, and the power to meet anyone is finally at our fingertips! Join FreeAndSingle today and discover how simple online dating really can be.

The post The History of Dating appeared first on The FreeAndSingle Blog.

Whether you’re a veteran dater or you’re thinking of joining an online dating site, let’s take a look at some of the hottest dating statistics you need in your life right now.

1 in 5 relationships start online

With more singletons using internet dating sites than ever before, it’s now far easier to meet people online than it is in person. We all lead busy lives, and as technology evolves, online dating is not only fun – it’s convenient. By chatting online before you meet face to face, you can be sure they are worth a first date. So it’s no wonder that one in five relationships start online really, is it?

35% of spouses meet online

If that wasn’t impressive enough, how about the fact that over a third of marriages begin online? Surprising though this statistic may seem, it does make sense. After all, by laying out your interests, personality, and what you’re looking for in a relationship from the start, it’s pretty inevitable that online dating often leads to wedding bells.

As the study in question is now a couple of years old, we can only imagine how these numbers have grown since the survey was conducted in 2013.

18-24 year olds love online dating

The vast number of online daters isn’t the only thing to have changed since 2013. A recent survey demonstrated a huge shift in opinion towards online dating amongst young adults over the past few years.

When 18-24 year olds were asked if they had used these platforms in 2013, only 10% said yes. However, in 2015, an impressive 27% said they use or have used an online dating site –  a nearly threefold increase over just two years!

81% of online daters tell white lies

In an effort to secure that hot date, it’s hardly surprising that many online daters tell white lies about their age, height, wealth and appearance. But the real question is, why? If you’re serious about getting to know someone, it won’t take long for them to discover that you’ve been telling porkies. So save yourself the headaches and find someone who loves you for who you really are.

Online dating is constantly evolving, as numbers surge, technology advances, and dating etiquette changes. These are just a few of our favourite online dating facts and statistics, which give us an insight into the views and behaviour of singletons around the globe.

Still looking for that perfect match? Sign up to FreeAndSingle today to start chatting with singles in your area.

The post Online Dating Statistics You Need to Know appeared first on The FreeAndSingle Blog.

Not convinced? Few people are until they meet Mr or Miss Right. So what is a soul mate, and why do people make such a big deal about them? We explore some of the reasons why your perfect match so damn perfect.

Passions on Par

We spend a lot of time with our partners, which makes it crucial to find someone who shares the same interests as you. Generally speaking, your soul mate will be so well suited to you because they have similar interests and passions. Whether you’re self-professed film geeks or you share a thirst for travel, your perfect match is likely to have a similar lifestyle and list of hobbies to you. That’s why, when filling out your online dating profile, your interests are a great starting point!

Shared Values

There’s nothing worse than finding out your new match supports Man United, whilst you’re a fierce Liverpool supporter. Having different values and beliefs can be bearable in dating, but when you come to settle down it’s important to be on the same page. And when you find your soul mate, you’ll be amazed at just how much you have in common.

Your Best Friend

If you’re the proud one-part of a lifelong friendship, you may feel that sisterhood or brotherhood is all you need to make you happy. Of course, nothing beats the bond of a best mate, but there’s a difference between the relationship you share with a friend and a partner. And besides, friendships evolve – as our lives change, so do our connections. With a soul mate you’re far more likely to grow together, rather than apart.

Unconditional Love

We’re all guilty of keeping up appearances and pretending to be someone slightly more perfect than we are sometimes. Whether it’s dressing to impress your friends or telling white lies at work, embracing who you are can be difficult unless you know that you won’t be judged for it. Soul mates love one another flaws and all, even if you do leave the toilet seat up, or hog the duvet in bed. There’s something quite comforting about knowing you’re loved unconditionally – don’t you think?

You could meet your soul mate when you’re 23 or 83, but when you do finally find your perfect match, make sure you let them know how you feel. Yet to find the cookie to your crumble? Free online dating is a fantastic way to meet likeminded singles who share your interests. Sign up to FreeAndSingle to get started – there’s no strings attached!

The post Everyone Needs a Soul Mate – Here’s Why appeared first on The FreeAndSingle Blog.

Love is in the air, with February the 14^th creeping up on the calendar and romance on everyone’s minds. Online dating numbers have surging at FreeAndSingle over the past month, as singletons search for someone who they can share the love with when Valentine’s Day arrives.

To get us all in the mood for the Big Day, we want to get your opinion on this annual phenomenon – it’ll only take a second! Whether you love it or hate it, have your say by answering the questions below.

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Thanks for taking the time to answer our Valentine’s Day survey! Our dating experts will analyse the results to bring you a special February feature, so keep your eyes peeled to see what the rest of the online dating community had to say about February the 14^th.

Make sure you never miss a dating blog post, competition or survey by following the @FreeAndSingle Twitter account, or liking us on Facebook!

Photo Credit: Smilla4

The post How Will You Spend Your Valentine’s Day? appeared first on The FreeAndSingle Blog.

But why? Is there something about mulled wine and mistletoe that makes everyone a little bit horny? Or is there something else about the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ that makes us more willing to give love a chance? FreeAndSingle has been doing some digging to discover how your online dating habits change over Christmas, and here’s what we found.

We asked FreeAndSingle members 3 questions that would give us an insight into what makes people tick in December and what their take is on the end-of-year rush to find a match online. Our first question:

Why do you think that online dating goes crazy over Christmas?

Everyone has their own motivation to try free dating online, but that doesn’t mean that your perception of the rest of the dating community will be the same. I drive because it gives me an opportunity to belt out Beyonce tunes, but I reckon most people do it to get from A to B. We gave 5 possible answers for this question, and the results were overwhelming decisive.

Bring out the violins, because at 58% loneliness wins hands down as the reason why people think that online dating numbers soar over the festive period. Elvis and MUD had a point when they crooned ‘it’ll be cold so cold without you to hold.’

It’s not difficult to see why December is a pretty lonely time. Christmas parties can be pretty painful for us single folk, and since the summer of freedom it seems that everyone and their dog is suddenly in a relationship. Of course the situation is only made worse when a couple introduce you to the only other single friend in the room – an accountant or acne-laden nerd who you get ciphered off with for the rest of the night. Maybe it’s best to stay at home? Oh no, not another rendition of Love Actually…..

Having said this, the second most popular response was that the Christmas season has a much more positive effect on singles, making people feel more romantic. There is something about this month that’s hopelessly romantic, with 22% of respondents saying that this was a big driving factor for more people to sign up to online dating. Yet with less than a quarter of FreeAndSingles supporting romance over loneliness, the feeling is overwhelming negative with this question.

Whilst online daters may view their fellow dating community as desperate singles crooning melodies into their Christmas cake, the picture is somewhat different when you turn the question on it’s head. Our next question is rather open ended, asking singles what they think December dating is for…

Interestingly, the reasons why individual singles increase their dating activity in December differs from why they think others do. Whilst only 11% of people thought that online dating goes crazy over Christmas because people have more time on their hands, when asked on their own opinions ‘finding time to focus on me’ came joint first place.

However loneliness still played its part, and level pegging as the most popular response was a wish to avoid being the only single person in the friendship group. People unashamedly rub their romance in your face over Christmas – a tip from us, don’t spend too much time scrolling through your Facebook timeline if you want to avoid wallowing in self-pity! Take action and spend that time scrolling through online dating profiles instead J

But what is everyone looking for out of their online dating experience? Have you asked Santa for your knight in shining armour or your future wifey, or is no strings attached fun stirring up your curiosity? Nope, it seems that all those soppy romcoms are making you go soft on us! Whilst 17% of you were looking for a bit of adult fun, focusing on your love life was more important for most of our respondents. Or at least having a girlfriend who can accompany you to those couples only parties.

We know that more people sign up to free online dating in December, but our next question focused on specifically how online dating habits change for those who are already active internet daters. We asked FreeAndSingle members:

Does your online dating technique change in December? (tick all that apply)

It certainly does, and as our members have more time to focus on the best person in their life (that’s YOU!), people spend more time on their accounts but also seem much more open to meeting someone new. An impressive 40% of you said you’d be more likely to respond to a first message, ‘even if I’m not 100% sure they’re my type.’ In other words, if you’ve been working up the courage to send a first message to that sexy local single, stop pussy-footing around and do it!

In fact, it seems like many of you already got the memo, with 34% saying you send more opening messages over the festive season than at other times of the year. After all, what have you got to lose? Whether it be out of loneliness, a seasonal pang of romance, or any other reason, people are much more willing to mingle as the New Year comes closer. And with around 30% more people singles online and active, you’re much more likely to find someone who not only tickles your fancy, but who feels the same way!

Summing Up

If there are 3 takeaway facts that we’ve learned from our survey, it’s that Christmas:

1. Is seen as a lonely time to be single by most people (even if we don’t all agree!)
2. Gives us an opportunity to focus on our love lives

3. Makes us more open minded about meeting new people

So whilst on the face of it the surge of online dating activity in December looks like a desperate attempt to find a match before the dawn of the New Year (and Valentines Day just over a month later!), in fact there is a practical element to the phenomenon too. Whilst Christmas is a busy time of year for socialising, it also gives us a breather from work and other commitments to be selfish for once and focus on ourselves.

It’s also a time to reflect, and when you do realise that you’re the only singleton in your friendship group, it’s a reminder that life soon passes you by – wasn’t it only Christmas 2013 yesterday? Being lonely or feeling romantic may make you more likely to respond to a first message, but that certainly isn’t a bad thing. That person who might not be your ‘type’ could in fact be ‘the one’.

Thanks to all those who took part in our online dating survey, and to everyone in our free online dating community for making 2014 the best yet at FreeAndSingle. A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year from the team, and be sure to let us know if you have any dating success stories to share in 2015!

Photo Credit: Kevin Burkett & by Ophelia photos

The post Desperate December? Online Dating Habits Over Christmas appeared first on The FreeAndSingle Blog.

We talked to a few Free and Single’s about what little rituals they have to do before they go out on a first date with someone new.

‘I always have a couple of girlfriends round the night before to help choose an outfit, fill me in on any news I might have missed during the week for conversation starters and to let them know where I’ll be going – safety is super important to me when online dating.’

Maria, 32

‘I’m always running around the house like a headless chicken searching for my lucky pants! I know its a cliche, but they work!’

Jamie, 27

‘I look in the mirror in my hall just as I’m leaving for the evening, check my lipstick and top it up one last time – I want a rich, red pout when my date sees me for the first time. It’s my signature look and if they don’t like it, we won’t get on.’

Lilliana, 28

‘I GPS the location of the date on my phone if she’s arranged it, so that I’m not the muppet who turns up twenty minutes late apologising because I got lost. I like to be on time, for dates if nothing else!’

Mitch, 37

‘I organise something to do the next day, so I won’t be waiting by the phone or the computer or over-analysing what happened. I love meeting up with friends for dinner, or going to the playpark with my daughter so that I won’t think too much about what happened.’

Lea, 26

‘I stop by the local greengrocers to pick up a flower, so I have something to give her when we meet – it breaks the ice and I’ve never known any women hate flowers!’

George, 30

Do you have special pre-date rituals that you just have to do before a first date? Let us know in the comments!

The post Free and Single Explores Pre-Date Rituals appeared first on The FreeAndSingle Blog.