Facebook tracks our online dating habits

According to a report on the News24 site, for example, two people who are about to enter a relationship interact more and more on Facebook in the weeks leading up to making their coupled status official, up until 12 days before the start of the relationship, when they share an average of 1.67 posts a day. Then, notes the report, their Facebook interactions start to decline, presumably because they are spending more time together offline. But while they interact less, couples are more likely to express positive emotions towards each other once they are in a relationship, researchers on Facebook's data science team found. Full report on the News24 site

Traditional online dating sites attract many people looking for love, but niche sites for book fans, pet lovers and even prisoners are helping Cupid's arrow hit the right target. According to a report on the News24 site, for taller-than-average people, there is tallfriends.com, and if pets are important, datemypet.com may help. Foodies who prefer not to eat meat can try VeggieDate, and fans of Apple products can turn to Cupidtino to find their perfect match. 'There are so many niche sites out there now. Back in the day JDate was one of the biggest niche sites, and it still is today,' Laurie Davis, the author of Love @ First Click, said about the dating site aimed at Jewish singles. Full report on the News24 site

For millions, adultery via the Internet has become the new normal. According to a report on the News24 site, since the launch of the Canada-based Ashley Madison website in 2002, which created a sensation with its seductive slogan, 'Life is short, have an affair', the numbers turning to online infidelity have soared. The report says there are now dozens of similar websites offering the promise of extramarital relationships with domain names that are unabashedly direct. By offering a site catering specifically for married individuals, Ashley Madison had 'filled a void in many married men and women's hearts,' Noel Biderman said, noting that the site he founded now has some 25m members in 35 countries, earning around $100m in revenue last year. Full report on the News24 site