<p>If you got married in the last few years, chances are that you may have found your life partner on a social networking site such as Twitter and Facebook - without you actually realising it.<br /><br /></p>.<p>An earlier generation could have subscribed to dating sites but that is passé now.<br /><br />Nearly 21 percent of people who discovered their spouses online and got married between 2005 and 2012 met through social networking sites, a recent study has found. "What is amazing is that this has basically happened without anyone really noticing," Jeff Hall, a University of Kansas expert on flirting styles, was quoted as saying in media reports.<br /><br />"The idea that social networking - without anyone researching it or even paying attention to it - could be this important. I was very surprised," Hall added.<br /><br />Potential lovers are finding each other on just about every online gathering place.<br /><br />What fascinates communication researchers is how social networks are able to connect potential lovers who circulate in similar worlds, with similar interests and backgrounds.<br /><br />"On social networking sites, you are looking at very narrow criteria like physical appearance and age. You can diminish your quality of choices. As a consequence, you get to know people in a less contrived way. <br /><br />You get an accurate impression," Hall concluded in a Washington Post report.<br /></p>
<p>If you got married in the last few years, chances are that you may have found your life partner on a social networking site such as Twitter and Facebook - without you actually realising it.<br /><br /></p>.<p>An earlier generation could have subscribed to dating sites but that is passé now.<br /><br />Nearly 21 percent of people who discovered their spouses online and got married between 2005 and 2012 met through social networking sites, a recent study has found. "What is amazing is that this has basically happened without anyone really noticing," Jeff Hall, a University of Kansas expert on flirting styles, was quoted as saying in media reports.<br /><br />"The idea that social networking - without anyone researching it or even paying attention to it - could be this important. I was very surprised," Hall added.<br /><br />Potential lovers are finding each other on just about every online gathering place.<br /><br />What fascinates communication researchers is how social networks are able to connect potential lovers who circulate in similar worlds, with similar interests and backgrounds.<br /><br />"On social networking sites, you are looking at very narrow criteria like physical appearance and age. You can diminish your quality of choices. As a consequence, you get to know people in a less contrived way. <br /><br />You get an accurate impression," Hall concluded in a Washington Post report.<br /></p>