Facebook, MySpace 'most popular love-hunting joints'

London, Feb 26 (ANI): Forget pubs and nightclubs, social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Friends Reunited have become the newest most popular love-hunting joints, says a new study.

Three quarters of Britons reckon there are fewer stigmas associated with meeting a love-match via Facebook or Bebo than normal internet dating websites.

A spokesman for internet market research company www.OnePoll.com, which carried out the study, said: "Traditionally the pub used to be a central meeting place where many couples met across the bar and got to know each other.

"Now social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace have taken over as the dating hot spot with many singletons finding love online.

"The websites also seem to be a breeding ground for rekindling old romances and the results also show that many affairs begin by tracing ex-lovers too."

A poll consisting of 3,000 20 to 40 year olds has found that almost half (46 per cent) believe it's easier to meet someone through social networking sites than in the flesh.

And 57 per cent of those admitted they are more confident communicating with a potential suitor online, reports The Telegraph.

Over a third (39 per cent) said they preferred the method as it enabled them to get to know someone before actually meeting them.

And 27 per cent felt using social networking sites cut down the time to find love compared to having to having to meet prospective partners face to face.

Yet 44 per cent agreed it's now considered "cooler" to find love via online community sites than traditional means.

A spokesman from www.OnePoll.com added: "You can see why the appeal for finding love through social networking sites is so strong. You can see someone's profile online, trawl through their personal pictures and see messages from their friends - creating a far greater impression of what that person is like than a traditional internet dating site." (ANI)