Internet dating is now the second most common method of matchmaking in America, research has shown.

Only introductions made through friends help more people in the US to find love.

But dating sites' claims that they employ "science-based" methods of bringing lonely hearts together cannot be trusted, say scientists.

A review of more than 400 psychology studies and surveys found there was no longer any stigma attached to internet dating.

According to one industry estimate, dating sites attracted 25 million users worldwide in April last year alone.

An internet troll is someone who basically posts up inflammatory and deliberately provocative messages online in order to provoke readers into emotional responses.

On internet forums such people are usually banned pretty quickly.

However, in the endless search for 'hits' I have observed newspaper websites indulging in similar tactics.

We've all seen the 'most read' and 'most shared' lists on news websites, and usually these equate to the wackiest or most provocative stories.

Well, in the cut-throat world of newspaper websites, many of which are completely separate in reality to the print products, this information has finally got through.

The Daily Mail's website is a prime exponent of this approach - and it's been very successful.

December figures show that it reached 45.3 million different users, to the New York Times's 44.8 million.

Search Engine Optimisation (as they call it - ie whether something will show up on google searches on certain subjects) is maximised by the tactic of running a stream of celebrity snippets down the side of EVERY page.

Anyway - newspapers often run stories which they think they will appeal to their readers' mindset. In the Daily Mail print edition this is usually about asylum seekers, miracle health cures and house prices.

The Daily Express likes Princess Diana, Madeleine McCann, erm asylum seekers, miracle health cures and house prices.

But online the aim is to find that story which will get your own readers good and outraged due to the ability of instant comment on stories.

So this example of 'news trolling' was a great success - the Mail's 'Right Wingers are Less Intelligent than Left Wingers' piece was like a red rag to a bull and 940 comments later...

Anyone reading those comments may form their own opinions as to the researchers' claims...

But it will be hits a go-go for the Mail (Daily Troll) online!

follow me on twitter @BenHurst

Facebook could be heading for a record stock flotation after unveiling plans to sell shares to the public.

The social networking site aims to raise five billion US dollars in what is expected to be the biggest initial public offering (IPO) from an internet company.

Eight years after it began, the company now has 845 million monthly users worldwide and last year made a profit of one billion dollars.

Registration documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also reveal that founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, 27, owns 28.4% of Facebook.

The documents do not include Facebook's market value, but reports suggest it could be as much as 100 billion dollars.

UK consumers are set to spend the most of anyone in Europe on buying goods on mobile devices this year, a report predicted today.

Shopping comparison firm Kelkoo estimated that spending will top £4.5 billion in this country, compared with £2.7 billion in Germany and £1.9 billion in France.

The figure compares with spending of just £0.7 billion in 2010 and follows a big increase in the number of people owning smartphones.

Chris Simpson of Kelkoo said: "Over the last two years, shopping on mobile phones has increased exponentially as a result of simple and secure payment systems, better functionality and increased uptake of 'always on' mobile devices such as iPads and tablets.

"The fact that mobile retailing in the UK has grown by a staggering 584% since 2010 alone highlights how UK consumers are going beyond the PC to find the best online prices wherever they are. At Kelkoo we've seen phenomenal growth in mobile shopping comparisons."

Consumers paid out £24 million last year to wind farm owners who had to switch off their turbines because the conditions meant they could not operate, the Government admitted today.

The Tory MP Mark Pawsey (Rugby) said many payments were being made because it was often too breezy for turbines to work as the electricity grid could not cope with the power that they generated in high winds.

In other cases, turbines have been switched off because there is not enough wind.

The aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, are seen near the city of Trondheim, Norway Tuesday Jan. 23, 2012.

Stargazers were out in force in northern Europe on Tuesday, hoping to be awed by a spectacular showing of northern lights after the most powerful solar storm in six years.

(AP Photo/Emil Bratt Borsting)

Facebook announced plans today to help thousands of small firms by offering free advertising to boost their chances of growing their business.

The firm will give away £4.2 million-worth of adverts to tens of thousands of small businesses across Europe following the launch of a series of roadshows being run in conjunction with the British Chambers of Commerce on building Facebook business pages.

A new report by Deloitte showed today that Facebook has supported 35,200 jobs across Europe and contributed £2.2 billion to the UK economy.

Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg said: "Today's report shows that Facebook is about a lot more than sharing pictures or keeping up with friends. Increasingly, social media means growth and jobs.

"As the Deloitte study highlights, social media is proving particularly valuable for small and medium-sized businesses, which form the backbone of the European economy.

"The impact of social media is a bright spot in challenging times, but growth won't happen on its own. We need to make sure that we invest in the right education, training, technology and networks so that social media can continue to drive innovation and economic growth."

A juror who carried out internet research at home while sitting at a criminal trial was jailed for six months for contempt of court today.

Academic Theodora Dallas, 34, had told other jurors what her research had revealed about a defendant on trial at Luton Crown Court in July 2011.

The judge aborted the trial after learning about her research.

She was sentenced today by three judges at the High Court in London, including Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice.

Dallas was present in court for the ruling.

She will serve three months and be on licence for the remainder of the term.

Online retail sales increased by 14% last year to more than £50 billion, with predictions that the growth will continue to hit high streets, according to a new report.

Shopping comparison website Kelkoo predicted a similar increase this year, well above the expected 3.65% rise in total retail sales.

Online shoppers spent an average of just under £1,500 each on 39 items last year, with internet retail trade accounting for 12% of total spending, the highest in Europe, said the report.

Other European countries with high online retail market shares included Germany (9%), Switzerland (8.7%) and Norway (8.1%), while the lowest were in Italy (1.3%) and Poland (3.1%).

Wikipedia blacked out the English language version of its website today in protest at anti-piracy laws being considered by the US government.

Users attempting to access the site were met with a black screen and the statement: "Imagine a world without free knowledge."

The website, which shut down at 5am British time, will go dark for 24 hours, the foundation behind the popular community-based online encyclopaedia said, in an unprecedented move that brings added muscle to a growing base of critics of the legislation.

Wikipedia is considered one of the internet's most popular websites, with millions of visitors daily.