Looking for love? Go online today
TODAY will be the busiest for online dating in its history – and 11pm the best time to look for love, industry experts predict.
Millions of lonely hearts will turn to dating websites and apps because finding romance in 2018 tops their list of New Year resolutions.
Last year, January 3 was the peak day but the soaring popularity of apps like Match, Tinder, Bumble and Plenty Of Fish will mean an even earlier start for singletons this time.
Online traffic will peak at 11pm as revellers recover from New Year’s Eve celebrations curled up on the sofa or in bed with their smartphones, Match forecasts.
It estimates 235,000 messages will be sent through its site alone today. New sign-ups will more than double.
Match dating expert Vicki Pavitt said: “Once all of the fun of New Year’s Eve weekend dies down and the Christmas festivities are over, January is the time many Brits embrace a new beginning and get back into the dating game.
“Pressure from family members during the holidays or wishing they had someone to spend the holidays with often encourages people.
“Dating apps are a fun, low investment way to find out if there is someone out there for you.
“And with more people likely to be online on January 1 than any other time this year, your chances of success will be even higher!”
Match found from a survey of 1,000 dating app users they typically scroll through 43 profiles as they start their search. They message 22 people but only a third bother to reply.
Bumble and Tinder expect a New Year’s Day surge in swiping, too.
Bumble international brand director Louise Troen said: “We always see a huge uptake throughout the whole of January.
“Everything around us in January is about self-development and reflection, and there is pressure on us, whether that is to go to the gym, be a better friend or find a new relationship.”
She said many were less busy at work and did not socialise as much with friends due to Dry January, and dating apps “filled the void”.
Bumble, where women make the first move, says its 26 million users globally send over 100 messages a second with 8-10pm its peak time. – Plenty Of Fish, meanwhile, says dating bids will peak again at 9pm on January 7 – with 14 per cent more conversations than usual and more than 100,000 new sign-ups.
According to Match data, only the Germans beat Britons at getting into the dating game – typically kicking things off at 8pm on New Year’s Day. The Swiss are third keenest, logging on at 4pm on January 2.
The most relaxed are the Irish, who wait until January 29.
Match says men are more active on apps, trawling about 47 profiles compared with 38 for women; sending 20 per cent more messages; and being 19 per cent more likely to respond to approaches.
Couples who hook up on mobiles typically wait two weeks before meeting on their first date. THIS cheeky cheetah cub puts its mother on the spot as it playfully tries to grab her attention.
But mum allows it to run around and cavort with her while she carries on minding her business.
Shem Compion, 41, took the photos while on a safari tour in the Maasai Mara game reserve in Kenya.
Shem, from Pretoria, South Africa, said: “It was heart-warming to be able to capture these images of such a playful and tender moment.
“Play is very important in a
New year...New job
TWO-THIRDS of Britons say they are planning on quitting their jobs in 2018.
Research by Totaljobs found many workers were “disenchanted” with their current jobs and were on the hunt for “something better”.
Just 12 per cent of the 5,000 polled said they enjoyed their current role, while 68 per cent had not received a pay rise.
David Clift, of Totaljobs, said: “It is clear from this research that 2017 has been a gruelling year for millions of UK workers.” predator's formative years as it is a foundation for their hunting skills.
“The mother cheetah, Malaika, is well-known around Maasai Mara, and I have known of her for about four years.
“She likes the open plains around the area so I have managed to spend a lot of time photographing her.
“Among cheetahs she is one of the more loving ones that I've observed, and the name Malaika actually translates to ‘angel' in Swahili.”