The word dating used to be viewed in the UK as an American thing � the British would �go out� with people, Americans would go �dating�. Like most American words/phrases, �dating� seems to have become part of British speak, and that�s a good thing � �dating� is a cool word. I think this is partly due to the increasing popularity of online dating sites, as previously, we Brits probably wouldn�t have used the word. We had several other words to describe the activity, but �dating� wasn�t one of them. Internet dating has become very popular in Britain now, and as well as changing our language it has also changed a lot of lives. The following article looks at the increasing popularity of online dating in the UK.

It is only really in the last few years that internet dating has become part of the mainstream. Prior to this, any kind of dating agency activity (be it lonely hearts, classified ads, online/offline dating agencies) wasn�t really something we would boast about participating in. Nowadays, we all know someone who has tried online dating, and they all seem to be having a great time.

Most of the big dating sites, have huge international databases, and people in dozens of countries can join and search for local dates. This is an option for UK online dating � join up at Match.com or equivalent, and you will have access to thousands of UK based members. The search criteria can be drilled down to more specific locale, so this is an excellent route to take for the UK internet dater.

There are also sites which are part of a larger dating site company with a huge database but with different sites catering for local users. An example of such a site is Glad-Eye, which is aimed at UK singles, but is part of a network of international dating sites. Again, this is a good option for UK internet dating.

We are all familiar with the Friends Reunited website, the site which puts old school friends in touch with one another. They also offer a dating service, which I haven�t personally tried but it�s probably pretty good if its part of the Friends Reunited brand. This is an example of a more localised site for UK online singles.

Traditionally, newspapers had lonely hearts pages where singles would advertise their GSOH (good sense of humour) and state who they WLTM (would like to meet). Nowadays, newspapers have dating sites of their very own. A quick Internet browse of UK newspapers reveals that the following have their own specialist dating sites: The Guardian, the Telegraph, the Daily Record and even The Times. These services are pretty good, but this means you will only meet people who read the same newspaper as you do� Might want to spread your wings a bit more�

Another pointer to the growth of internet dating in the UK is the number of dating tips websites that have popped up (including my own, of course!!). These sites usually offer tips, dating site reviews, and usually a free newsletter.

By now you will realise that internet dating has really taken off in the UK. We all know someone who has tried it and are perhaps thinking of trying it ourselves. As far as online dating in the UK goes, you have a wide choice from multi-national sites with local searches, to your favourite newspaper�s dating site. You should try them all!

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