Married friends often roll their eyes when single people complain about how hard it is to meet someone special. After all, they met someone. How hard could it be? Well, according to the numbers, it is harder than ever.

Though marriage rates have been falling in Europe for more than a generation now, people tend to ignore these numbers until they set a record. And unfortunately, the UK just did. A recent report revealed that the marriage rate in the UK is at a one hundred and fifty year low. It also stated that the average age for a first marriage is five years older than it was just a generation ago. What are singles to do?

Believe it or not, many singles in the UK are turning to technology to solve their dating woes. We are speaking of course about dating friends online. Most people are surprised when they learn that virtual dating has been around since the advent of the internet. But it was not until people became comfortable with the technology and started communicating online that online dating began to feel familiar.

What are the advantages? One reason that many first dates fail is because people put too much pressure on themselves to have a perfect, magical evening. In short, their expectations are simply too high. But this is not a problem when it comes to online dating where people can get to know each other gradually.

Online dating is a modern answer to our busy work lives that deprive us of a normal social life. A member on an online dating site can meet and converse with dozens of singles at a time, and there is absolutely no pressure or expectations put on anyone. If you want to meet, you meet. If you don't, you don't.