Not everyone online is looking for love. Although online dating has become less of a niche endevour, with millions of people worldwide registered with online dating services, there are a lot of singles who are hesitant. While using online dating services makes the singles experience much easier, it can still be intimidating approaching a person you’ve never met with the sole intention of dating them.

So, many singles are logging on to the internet to find friends before lovers. Looking for friends first can help ease the pressure, so you don’t feel like you have to jump right into a relationship or a romantic situation. Many people want their relationships to start naturally, to be born out of a friendship that turned into something romantic rather than starting a relationship from the get-go. There are now many dating service catering to those who feel this way, allowing singles to search for friends rather than romantic prospects.

FriendsorMates.com, UKFriendsDating.co.uk are just two of the online dating websites that offer services for friend-searching. These friendship-dating websites are a cross between Facebook and Match.Com, allowing you to take your time and search for love at your own pace. Sites like these act almost as social networking sites, where users can browse others’ profiles without having to make matches but form friendships. There is less risk of rejection, because everyone knows that everyone else is just looking for a friend, not a one-night stand or a serious relationship. Many of these friend dating sites are free, so try it out!