Love begins... on the Internet

If you ask your parents how they met， they might say ‘a(chǎn)t school’ or ‘a(chǎn)t work’， or possibly ‘in a bar’. If you ask the same question to couples these days， it is very likely that the answer might be ‘on the Internet’. In recent years internet dating has grown all over the world. In the UK alone there are now more than 1，400 online dating websites， where people can log-on， create a profile and then start looking for Mr or Miss Right.

Not love at first sight

When the first online dating sites started in the early 2000s， people were often embarrassed to use them. The idea of meeting someone online was considered unusual， or perhaps a bit strange. As our social lives have moved more and more online， with millions of people now using social media websites （like Facebook） every day， online dating has also become a normal part of everyday life.

In fact， these days， one in nine adults in the USA has been on a date with someone they met online， and there is research which says that in 20 years’ time， over 50 per cent of couples will meet on the Internet， which means that websites that offer this service are a huge business.

A website for everyone

A quick search on the Internet will tell you that there are even specialist dating sites for all types of people， for example， there is one site which is especially for yoga fans， and others for meeting vegetarians， or even for animal lovers or people with tattoos！ So does this mean that the days of going out with friends to bars to try and meet a new boyfriend or girlfriend are over？

Is the future online？

Some people don’t think so. Clare is 29 and has been single for two years. ‘Although I would like to meet someone， I don’t really want to join a dating website—you never know who you’re going to meet and it takes up so much time—I would prefer to go out with friends and see what happens.’

But it seems that she is an exception， as there are many couples who feel that， without the Internet， they would never have met， and with the introduction of new mobile dating apps， it is now easier than ever to find love， wherever you are， from your mobile phone.

Activity 1

Before you read， match the word or phrase to a definition.

1. date 2. exception 3. log on

4. Mr Right/Miss Right 5. profile 6. specialist

a. a page with someone’s details/photo on a website

b. enter a website， using a password

c. focused on a particular subject

d. go out with someone you are interested in romantically

e. something or someone that is different to a general rule

f. the ideal partner for a man or woman

Activity 2

Now complete the sentences using words and phrases from the text.

1. Everyone in our class hated maths， but Jenny was an （____）—she loved the classes.

2. I’m so angry！ I’ve forgotten my password， and I can’t （____） to this computer！

3. Jeff was single for almost three years when finally he met （____）， and now he is getting married next month.

4. Mike spent three hours getting ready this evening， because he is going on a （____） to the cinema with a woman he met at work.

5. My brother told me to put some more photos on my website’s （____） page， so that people could find out more about me.

6. My uncle is really interested in plants， and he often buys （____） magazines to find out more about them.

Activity 3

Decide if the following statements are true or 1， according to the text. Can you correct the 1 ones？

1. These days most couples meet in bars.

2. Online dating sites were popular when they first started.

3. In 20 years， more than half of people will meet their partner online.

4. These days， there are dating websites for people with special interests.

5. Many couples have only met because of the Internet.

Activity 4

Use the words at the top to complete the sentences about the future. The first one has been done as an example.

may might might not perhaps will won’t

Example： （… Perhaps …） we can go for a nice dinner on our first date.

1. I definitely （____） come to the party if I am not feeling well.

2. We （____） go to the beach tomorrow， but only if it’s a sunny day.

3. In the future most people （____） use their mobile phones to do their shopping.

4. Using a dating website （____） be the easiest way to meet a partner these days.

5. It （____） be a good idea to put your phone number on your internet profile—it could be dangerous.

Activity 5

Have you ever been on an internet date？ How popular are these types of websites where you live？

Answers

Activity 1

1. d; 2. e; 3. b; 4. f; 5. a; 6. c

Activity 2

1. exception; 2. log on; 3. Miss Right; 4. date; 5. profile; 6. specialist

Activity 3

1. False （F） – most people meet their partners online;

2. F – people were embarrassed to use them;

3. True （T）; 4. T; 5. T

Activity 4

1. won’t; 2. might/may; 3. will; 4. might/may; 5. might not