Zoosk Does International Flirting Week

This just in, a little late: February 13-19, 2013 was International Flirting Week. I had no idea that was a thing until now, but I'm already fully prepared to jump aboard the Flirting Week boat. As far as I'm concerned, every week should be flirting week.

And as far as Zoosk is concerned, International Flirting Week (oh, and that little holiday called Valentine's Day, too) was the perfect opportunity to conduct a survey on flirting habits amongst 13,000 members of the site. Why do we flirt? How do we flirt? Who flirts best? And what better way to explore it all, than via infographic?

First up: the Battle of the Sexes. Who are the biggest flirts, men or women? Opinion appears to be divided on the issue. 53% of women say men are the more flirtatious sex, but 60% of men disagree and think women take the flirting crown.

Opinion is less divided over the reasons people flirt. Most, at 41%, say flirting is just playful fun. Others think it's a good icebreaker (20%), a way to keep the romance alive (18%), or a useful tool for attracting a partner (11%).

Flirting is popular for singles and loved up couples alike. 89% of men and women think it's important to flirt with your significant other when you're in a relationship. 54% of men will flirt even if they're not interested in pursuing a relationship, as will 41% of women (guilty as charged!).

What about when flirting goes wrong? Zoosk users think these are the Gravest Flirting Mistakes:

• Suggestive body language
• Corny pickup lines
• Inappropriate comments about one's physical appearance
• Coming on too strong and invading personal space

And who are the biggest flirts in the world? I bet you can guess this one...

Although 76% of American men think they're Cassanovas, the top flirting trophy goes to Italian men, 97% of whom say they are big-time flirts.

Two things are clear: flirting is exciting regardless of age, gender, or relationship status, and I need to move to Italy.

Says Robin Gorman Newman, founder of International Flirting Week: "As the Zoosk survey shows, many view flirting as fun even if they don't want to date the person, but it's also a way to jumpstart a relationship or rekindle romance. In our busy lives, flirting can be a quick and effective way to remind your mate that you love and are excited by them."

To find out more about the dating site which brought us this survey you can read our review of Zoosk.com.