Answer: False
The general answer is "false," although this answer depends on the context you are referring to, as some cultures have very liberal courtship systems or strict dating systems.
However, in the West, traditional courtship systems were quite strict until the Industrial Revolution. Courting was seen as necessarily leading up to marriage, and was carried out within tight social circles. During the twentieth century (and particularly during the second half), courtship became more liberal and dating began to emerge. This was due to the independence that young people enjoyed in modern, urban life and to the increased interaction of both genders in social life.