Today, there are many free online dating services as those that require memberships. Most free online dating services have almost the same features as the paid ones, so people can get the same benefit without having to pay for anything. However, one of the reasons why these free online dating services are not as popular as those that require membership fees is that almost 45% of the single adults who use these dating services are actually looking for serious relationships. Here are some guidelines to remember when looking at free online dating sites. 1. Privacy policy Even if it is a free online dating site, it has to have its own privacy policy. This means that online dating sites should never sell or use their member�s e-mail address for anything else. 2. Background checking It always pays off to do background checking before committing to a certain online dating site. It�s best to find out first if the site has larger membership database than others. More members would mean choices. 3. Extra features Not all free online dating services are created equal. So, even if they are free, some can provide greater features compared to others. 4. Log-in safety measures Even if the site seems okay, remember never to use your real name when creating a user name or use an e-mail address. It is always best to maintain certain level of secrecy for security purposes. 5. Free trial offers Free online dating services usually offer free trials. It wouldn�t hurt to try just as long as a person observes safety online dating guidelines. After all, there�s nothing to lose because they are free. So, whether or not free online dating services are favorable, one thing should always be kept in mind: One�s safety should always be on top priority.