Critics say that the Internet could lead to solitary living. A person can while away hours and hours in front of the computer screen, surfing alone, and completely forget that a real social life is required for a healthy, balanced life.

True, perhaps, but not always. An increasing number of solitary people are making use of the Internet to find new friends, which has often led to dating, and sometimes led to marriage!

A number of sites have been created to allow singles to meet over the Internet. A few of them are fee-based; others are free. The Internet has become a major meeting point for people worldwide, so, if you're looking for a special person, a quick visit to the WorldWide Web may be worthwhile.

In doubt? Yahoo! lists a number of sites from couples who met through the Internet. These people are testimonials that online friendships and dating can work.

Annette's Love Connection claims to have more than 130,000 listings of men and women worldwide, each looking for his or her soulmate. At this site, you may enter specifications on the person you are looking for, such as age, geographical location, profile and even physical characteristics. Then you just have to browse the ads, some of which include photos.

Couple Link is a fee-based service. With a monthly fee of US$8.00, you can become a member and enter your personal information into their database. You can also search from among the site's worldwide membership for people with interests similar to your own. If you find a potential boy or girlfriend, just write to that person directly, and see where it leads.

If you're unwilling to part with $8.00 each month, then try The Singles Heaven, which is a similar to Couple Link, but free. Well, free for women in reality — men are allowed a trial membership but have to pay a fee after the trial period is over.

The Singles Heaven operates much the same way as Couple Link, by matching up member profile information and other specifications. A major benefit of The Singles Heaven is that it offers a special e-mail interface, allowing you to correspond with your chosen party without revealing your identity.

Another free site is the WW Matchmaking Service, where you can put an ad and wait to see which kind of replies you can get.

You may be looking for people of a very specific group, or in a specific region. Many regional and ethnic sites are widely available, and it would take too long to mention all of them here. These specialized sites can be found at the Cupid's Network. This is the right place to look for sites for Christians, Afro-Americans, specific countries or cities, and the like. All the links are there for you to browse and find your own group.

What?! Are you a senior citizen who thinks that only young people have the opportunity to meet potential dates or mates over the Internet? Wrong! Take a visit to Third Age, where you'll find lots of good information for seniors, including a facility for finding people with common interests. More than that — you can even consult an online guide to flirting and instructive articles on related subjects.

The Internet is really a freeway to finding people with the same interests. However, you may face some pitfalls, so forewarned is forearmed.

Follow these guidelines and you aren't likely to get hurt:

• Don't disclose your real name, home address or home phone number until you believe it is safe to do so.

• If corresponding with someone from a foreign country beware of their motives: are they trying to find a way to move to YOUR country?

• Prostitution rings are web-savvy; make sure you are corresponding with someone who is looking to date/mate for love or friendship, not money.

• If you're planning to finally meet face-to-face with someone you met over the Net, tell a friend or relative whom you're meeting, when and where.

Very special care must be taken before any major steps are taken — especially if you're look for that special someone with whom you can spend the rest of your life. If you need to find out more about your new friend or love interest, there are sites that specialize in investigations, one of which is Who is He — Who is She?

In addition, Wildx Angel is full of instructions and advice on how to protect yourself and avoid future problems. The site uses real life experiences to warn people about the danger of meeting people over the Internet without properly checking everything. Do's and don'ts of this kind of search are included, as well as e-mail and chat advice.

There are many documented cases of couples around the world who met through the web. Some are just dating, others are already married. The web can be a wonderful couple-matching resource. Just don't let the prospect of falling in like or in love blind you to the fact that there could be some less-than-honest people out there. Use common sense, be careful, and have fun!