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ONLINE DATING: MORE ACCEPTABLE THAN EVER BEFORE BUT MOST BRITS DON’T BELIEVE IT’S THE BEST WAY TO FIND TRUE LOVE
And 29% have even admitted to running away from a bad online date!
A survey commissioned by Macmillan Cancer Support has revealed that whilst nine out of ten Brits think online dating has become more acceptable in the past three years, 84% don’t believe it’s the best way to meet a long term partner. With single people also admitting that they are three times more likely to trust a Facebook profile (40%) than an online dating profile (14%), Macmillan is today launching My Mate Your Date, a unique social media fundraising initiative that allows people to ask friends to set them up through Facebook, to raise money for Macmillan.
Further results from the survey, which looked at people’s experiences and attitudes towards dating, show that classic online fears are still prevalent amongst singletons; many are reluctant to try internet dating because they’re worried their date might be “weird” in person (15%) or not look like their picture (8%), with nearly a third (29%) admitting that they’ve resorted to running away from an online date, got drunk (20%) or faked an illness or emergency (9%) because it was so bad.
Whilst only a third (32%) of single people have previously gone on a date set up by friends, 69% said they would be happy for a friend to suggest dates through Facebook, something Macmillan are encouraging through My Mate Your Date, with the added benefit of supporting a good cause at the same time. So instead of paying the usual online dating subscription fee, supporters will donate money for every date suggested, and will hopefully have that warm and fuzzy feeling before the dating has even begun.
Love mentor Elizabeth Sullivan explains: “Whilst online dating is a great way to meet fellow singles, people often feel nervous about meeting a stranger. And with our ever increasing schedules, people are often too busy to play cupid or too embarrassed to ask friends to set them up. That’s why My Mate Your Date is a brilliant concept: it uses a very modern social media tool but goes back to the traditional method of introducing friends…with an added feel good factor of giving to charity at the same time!”
Model Amy Willerton, who is supporting the launch of the campaign, says: “I’m so excited to be involved in My Mate Your Date. Dating for charity is such a clever idea- I love setting people up so I can’t wait to encourage all my friends to get involved and raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, to help make sure no-one faces cancer alone.”
My Mate Your Date asks single people to carefully choose friends to suggest dates for them over a 30 day period. The single person then reviews the dates and requests introductions if they’re interested, with all money collected at the end of the 30 days going to Macmillan. It’s free to sign-up, no online profiles or photos are shared, and participants can suggest the amount they want to pay per date suggested.
Go to www.mymateyourdate.com to find out more about how putting your love life in other people’s hands can make a huge difference to people affected by cancer.
