Online dating seems like it’s been around forever since the beginning of the internet. Back in the old days, internet dating was more like a classified ads site than anything else. Today, with sites like Backpage2, there’s a more polished feel. Along with that feeling comes the understanding that you need to present yourself in a certain way if you expect to succeed in online dating.
Don’t spam every profile you come across
Okay, so here’s the problem: you’re super lonely, and you want to talk to someone. You don’t care who you talk to, just as long as they’re not a robot. Dating sites today have strict antispam protection, and they’ll shut your account down super fast if they think you’re spamming.
The word will go out on the dating site that you’re messaging anyone and everyone, which will make you look bad. People will immediately become suspicious as to why you’re sending out so many messages—only message people who you think are a good fit. If you’re looking to chat, take a look and see if the dating site has a chatroom and use it. Most dating sites have a chat feature that allows people to hang out and talk with each other.
Falling in love long before you meet the person
It’s not uncommon for people to talk for weeks, if not months, before meeting in the real world. You might talk on the phone or on camera, and it’s natural to have some kind of feelings for the other person. You’re lonely, and the person seems to be filling a void in your life.
You can’t fall head over heels for someone before you meet them. The person will think that you’re crazy or you’re way too needy. If you come across as clingy, you’ll never meet the person. Sometimes, when a person comes across as pouring it on too much, they think that you’re trying to scam them.
Even if your heart is in the right place, you can’t allow yourself to fall in love with someone you meet online. You have no idea who this person is and it’s way too early to fall in love now. Instead, take your time and if you feel those butterflies in your stomach, call a doctor because something isn’t right.
Don’t expose yourself to potential harm
Not everyone you meet on a dating site has your best interest at heart. You will come across people who will take you for a ride if you let them. They’ll take your money and, who knows, maybe even steal your identity. You don’t want to give out any personal information that anyone can use to steal your identity.
If you meet the person, never go to their house on a first date. You want to meet the person at a public place like a restaurant, park, or anywhere with a lot of people. Don’t rent a hotel room to meet someone you don’t know who they are or do anything like that because the outcome might not be what you expect.
Never use outdated photos on your profile
Age might just be a number, but it’s a number that defines all of us in some way. Imagine if you stumble across a person’s profile picture and you can’t believe how great they look. Then, out of the blue, you decide to meet, and they look ten years older. Imagine your shock when you see the person, and they now look over the hill.
For whatever reason, some people like to use old profile pictures, and that’s bad news. If you’re talking to someone who you think is using an old profile picture, ask them to fire up their cam so you can see them. If they hesitate, you know something is off because a person who is seeking someone to be in a relationship with shouldn’t want to hide themselves.
Online dating is full of potential minefields
It’s true, online dating is full of oddities and there’s no denying it. However, if you’re willing to take a few basic safety precautions, you’ll be fine. The most important thing is to enjoy yourself and don’t’ put yourself in any situations that could produce tricky situations.
