80% young singles in China sign up for online dating service: survey

A recent survey by the China Youth Daily found that 78.8 percent of the 1,972 respondents used marriage websites, mobile apps or social media to seek spouses.

More than 60 percent of those surveyed are interested in the matching services provided, which can recommend proper "candidates" according to their requirements for potential spouses.

"The platform can select the people who meet my requirements, which saves me a lot of time," said Lin Peng, a 28-year-old researcher in Tianjin.

Up to 54 percent of the respondents said they had friends who found partners through online dating services.

Online matchmaking also helps the users to feel at ease when communicating with the opposite sex.

"I am shy to talk face-to-face with strangers, but I don't get embarrassed even if I don't get a reply when taking the initiative on online dating services," said Zhang Xiao, a lady in her 20s.

Young people, in general, are weak in social skills, so they resort to online matchmaking, said Ling Zi, a marriage specialist in eastern China's Zhejiang Province.

It is difficult to make sure that information on online matchmaking services is reliable, and the young singles should be alert to marriage fraud, Ling said.

Females accounted for 51.8 percent of the respondents and males 48.2 percent.