Online dating now one of most common ways to start a relationship... second only to meeting through friends

Online dating now one of most common ways to start a relationship... second only to meeting through friends - Internet dating is now the second most common way of starting a relationship after meeting through friends, research shows.

But don't put too much faith in online 'match-making' services, experts warn, as these have little evidence to back them up.

Digital dating is vital in a society where the methods of forming relationships are grossly inefficient, claim psychologists from the University of Rochester in the U.S.

'Efficient': Find a date online, say experts, but don't trust the 'match-up' quizzes

They say that online partner-hunting can be highly successful, providing would-be daters take a realistic approach, reported the Daily Telegraph.

'Online dating is definitely a new and much-needed twist on relationships,' said Harry Reis, one of the report's five authors and a professor in psychology.

'The internet holds great promise for helping adults form healthy and supportive romantic partnerships, and those relationships are one of the best predictors of emotional and physical health.'

Don't judge him: The researchers said 'shopping' for potential mates online can make us more judgemental and picky (posed by models)

But Professor Reis warned that that match-making websites' claims they can find you the perfect mate using 'scientific' quizzes are as yet unproven.

He also said that the habit of assessing hundreds of potential dates can make people increasingly judgemental and picky.

The study, commissioned by the Association for Psychological Science, said the social stigma that initially surrounded internet dating was fast disappearing.

Around 25million unique users logged on to dating sites last April alone, according to one estimate. ( dailymail.co.uk )