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Dating and Friendship Sites

One of the main uses of the internet it to make friends and build relationships. Many people in different countries have met via chat rooms or social networking sites and that friendship has led to marriage.

There are several key types of sites some are free to use others charge in varying ways, so tend to provide less or better protection to the person seeking friendship and companionship.

Typical web site types or themes which can help you find new or renew former friendships include;

• finding old friends especially from school, college or university
• pursue hobbies and interests and find like people
• research family and ancestors and contact other family members worldwide, or links to help trace family.
• upload and download, view or print family photos and videos - contact new family brought about by marriage.
• email friends and family locally or worldwide and exchange photos of major events such as weddings and births.
• takes courses and educate yourself and meet others doing the same.
• relieve boredom, tedium and frustration, do something new, go somewhere new.

Best practices

• FREE web sites can attract a wider audience and thus offer more risk to users. These sites often work on the concept users "police" the site themselves about misuse and rely on user feedback and notification on which they can act.
• Sites which charge even a small annual fee will deter many criminals and predators and the site will monitor abuse.
• Actual dating web sites charge more and usually put members through a qualifying system to ensure a greater level of credibility of user than free sites, BUT still be cautious. A serious predator can create (or use) a fake identity and be happy to pay the fees.
• Be cautious with new online contacts which may lead to friendship, ask questions and check for credible and reliable responses.
• Avoid giving out any personal details such as your home address, telephone number, even your real name. This may mean a "cat and mouse" game when neither side will open up, so in the end divulge personal details only when you are sure the proposed friend is authentic.
• do not divulge bank or credit card details to anyone online or via email regardless of their credibility - if you are asked to order goods or send money do this via a third party like www.paypal.com or order yourself, this will afford you legal protection and comeback if things go wrong.
• A good web site is no guarantee of a credible friend. Do not always believe what you see or are told.
• read our other sections for more specialist advice;
  • Identity Theft
  • Social Networking
  • Dating and Friendship

Useful web sites

• www.friendsreunited.co.uk Enables users to find out what old school and college friends are doing.
• www.classmates.com Find high school classmates and long-lost friends. Browse schools by state or country, with user profiles and reunion updates.
• www.ancestry.co.uk is the largest family history site online with over 4 billion names in worldwide historical records.
• http://www.genesreunited.co.uk The UK's no.1 family tree and genealogy site with over 7 million members.

• www.makefriendsonline.com Offers photos personals, chat, who's online, and one-to-one messages, for single men and women from the U.K. and worldwide.

• www.doglover.biz Dog lovers online dating service for single people looking to share their life with a special someone. Our website includes personals, blogs and latest news.

• www.dating4disabled.com Dating service and online community for disabled individuals.