Online Dating Is Changing How We Flirt

Reporter: So internet dating might have transformed the way many people look for love and become socially acceptable, but some feel there's oneactivity an online profile or a newspaper ad can never replicate: good, old-fashioned, flirting.
Jean Smith is an American anthropologist and flirting coach.Kelly is single. She has tried online dating, but feels her one-to-one flirting skills need improving.
Kelly: Excuse me... hi there.
Man: I don't havetime, sorry.
Kelly: OK, thank you.
You still have to flirt online, but via the medium of writing and that's completely different from trying tostrike up a conversation with somebody, in person.
Reporter: This exercise involves chatting to strangers.
Jean Smith: When we first start doing this,you're going to feel a bit awkward, a bit uncomfortable.
Kelly: A bit silly.
Jean Smith: Part of flirting is having the confidence of letting someoneknow that you're interested. And British people, in my experience, are way too hesitant and so both people leave and think... oh God, I wish I would havesaid something.
Why don't you ask him can he recommend a good restaurant around here?
Kelly: Could you recommend anywhere nice to eat around here?That went really well.
Jean Smith: Yeah, I know. I was, like, OK Kelly!
Reporter: Whether it's through an advert or chance encounter, the meeting of twostrangers can be life-changing and for this flirting expert at least, if you want it to happen, you've got to seize the day.
Tim Muffett, BBC News