For a lot of people, datings apps are considered a necessary evil - they require hard work, commitment and effort.

The trouble is, that’s just the way people meet their partners nowadays.

But what if there was actually another online platform that was much more effective at getting couples together? What if it was a social network you’re already using but had never considered in the love stakes?

It turns out that a lot of couples have met over Twitter - the hashtag #wemetontwitter started trending yesterday as people started sharing stories of how the micro-blogging site helped them find love.

Most famously, one woman married the man she first fell for after loving his nerdy tweets from the official Waterstone’s bookshop Twitter account.

“Well I'm in love with whoever is manning the @WstonesOxfordSt account. Be still my actual beating heart,” Victoria Carlin tweeted back in 2012.

The two then Tweeted each other back and forth for a little while before deciding to meet up in person - Victoria went to Waterstone’s in her now husband Jonathan O'Brien’s lunch-break with doughnuts and the couple went for a walk.

They tied the knot in Islington in July 2016 and melted hearts across the world with their unconventional but beautiful love story.

So if it worked for Victoria and Jonathan, could it work for you too?

How to find love on twitter - a guide:

1. Slide into their DMs

Judging by the stories of couples meeting on Twitter, sending someone a direct message (DM) seems to be the best approach. Unlike Tweets, DMs are private, allowing you to get a bit flirty with the object of your affections.

Maybe you DM in response to one of their tweets, maybe you just strike up a conversation out of the blue, but it’s probably wise not to do so before exchanging a few tweets or following each other for a little while.

2. Meet through friends

Maybe someone you know IRL tweets a friend that you think is kind of cute, so why not join in the conversation?

It’s likely that your crush will be more open to chatting to you with the knowledge that you have a mutual friend, so follow them, hope they follow you back, give their tweets some love and then eventually slide into their DMs.

3. Follow up after meeting in person

Have you ever met someone at a party or networking event, hit it off but not asked for their number and regretted it? Tracking them down on Facebook and adding them as a friend can seem a bit forward and personal, but following them on Twitter is a much more relaxed move.

From there you can get to know each other, woo them with the interesting articles and hilarious gifs you share, and eventually move on to those all important DMs.