(NAPSA)—For an increasing numberof people, the road to happiness may include the information superhighway. For example, about a million men and women around the world are using one Web site—Date.com —to meet their soul mates. In fact, in 2001, about 50 couples who metat the site got married. Angelica Alonzo is one who found love and happiness on the Internet when the San Antonio paralegal met Roy Maxwell on Date.com. “My family thought it was a bad and dangerous idea,” Ms. Alonzo recalled. Within short order, however, an e-mail relationship blossomed into a love affair. Roy and Angelica got engaged and tied the knot on June 16, 2001 in a small ceremony in Texas. As Angelica Alonzo learned, registering at Date.com is free and finding someoneatthe site can be easy. Step 1. Fill out an onlineprofile. Step 2. Search the otherprofiles and find someone you like, or just hang out and perhaps someonewill find you. The personal information you give is completely private and anonymous. No one can find out your real name, your address, or your e-mail address without you telling it to them. All the mail you get at the site goes to a new e- mail account assigned just to you. You can browse through thousandsofprofiles to find someone or specify exactly what you’re looking for. The 20 to 30, 31 to 40 and 41 to 50 age brackets each represent about 30 percent of the Date.com member base, the remaining ten Interfacing via the Internet can lead to enjoyable relationships for many. percent are over 50. Members can get into chat rooms where they can hang out and meet other singles. Different chat rooms are set up for different ages and sexual preferences. If you have a special hobbyor interest, you can set up your own chat room. The site offers advice on online dating etiquette and practices. There’s even an in-house astrologer to tell you what the stars say about your search. The system was designed by relationship experts and psychologists, who created a formula for matchmakingthat takes into consideration basic human traits and the results of years of relationship research. Finding meaningful relationships is what online datingis all about. One recent survey found that 77 percent of nearly 12,000 respondents said they are spending more time dating online since the tragic events of Sept. 11. People are looking to “connect,” and online dating is an increasingly popular method of doing just that. You can read success stories, register to join or just learn more online at www.date.com.
