Joshua Galyon
With the tail-end of the pandemic looming ever closer in view, you might be thinking that this is the perfect time to start playing the field. You’ve been putting it off for ages but you finally want to get back onto the dating scene. For many of us, having been out of the game for so long makes the prospect of heading to a bar or a pub to meet someone a bit daunting. Why not give online dating a try?
Now, you might be thinking, is online dating worth it? Does online dating work? This depends on a few things. What are you looking for? How patient are you? Are you actually ready to put yourself out there? Well, in 2019, around 77% of people who were engaging in online dating had gone on at least one date – a pretty promising success rate! Naturally, you’ll have a higher chance of success if you are just after something casual and don’t have too many expectations. If you are hoping to find your happily ever after then you might need a bit more perseverance. Rome wasn’t built in a day after all! But that doesn’t mean it’s not possible.
Getting Started
If you’re wondering how to get started with online dating, the first step is to choose the platform. There are countless online dating sites and apps to use and the best advice would be to try as many as you can to see which is the one for you. Some notable ones to mention would be eHarmony and Bumble.
One of the biggest advantages of online dating is that it’s very easy to filter out people who are not after the same thing as you are. You don’t even need to engage with people who don’t have the same interests as you. No longer do you have to suffer through a painful date with a stranger explaining the latest cryptocurrency fad or why “NFTs are the future bro”! If you are into bird watching and opera, it’s quite easy to find someone else who shares this interest through the magic of online dating! Are you into very niche anime about steampunk witches and dragons? Step this way! Or maybe you just really love 13th-century medieval French poetry – we have someone for you too!
Introducing… me!
How is this all possible? Well, that comes down to creating the perfect dating profile. This is your first point of contact with potential suitors so it’s important to make it stand out and entice them to want to get to know you better. Be original, creative, and authentic. List a few of your interests – the more unique and interesting the better! When it comes to choosing photos, make sure that they capture your essence. Think of what someone else could put on their profile that would pique your interest and, above all, go with your gut.
Are they the one – or Just a Catfish?
Online dating is not without its pitfalls though. There are some dangers of online dating to keep in mind – but don’t let them put you off altogether! The first one that might spring to your mind is catfishing. How do you know that who you are speaking to is really who they say they are? Are they too good to be true? Luckily, there are some things to look out for to spot someone impersonating another person so you are not being taken for a fool.
Am I Safe?
You might also question whether the person you are considering meeting with has genuine and good motives or not. “Stranger danger” really should not be forgotten when it comes to taking things to the next level. But again, there are precautions that you can take to be savvy when it comes to meeting up with someone. Make sure that the date is in a public and busy location. Tell a friend or family member of your location and when you expect to be safely home. Most importantly – trust your instincts. If you have any reservations or second thoughts, then don’t feel forced to go through with it. If they really are genuine then they will understand and back off.
It’s important to remember that dating in the “real” world as opposed to online dating has its fair share of dangers as well so being safe and careful applies no matter how you approach dating.
Something for Everyone
The sheer scale and variety of people using online dating apps is almost mind blowing. From 2015 to 2020 there was an increase of almost 100 million in the number of people registered on some sort of online dating platform! Based on numbers alone, when it comes to meeting someone the odds really are in your favour! There is someone out there for everyone, all you need to do is get out there and find them.
For those with a 25 Hour Day
Another advantage that online dating has over traditional dating is that building a meaningful connection is not limited solely to the time spent physically with them. If you only have enough time for a quick 30-minute coffee meet, everything that wasn’t said on the date can be said virtually later on. There need be no interruption to the growing attraction. In addition, if you don’t have an abundance of spare time, you no longer have to waste it sitting through awkward dates that your friends organised for you. You have the power to decide who you are devoting your valuable time to.
So the next time you ask yourself why should you be giving online dating a try, hopefully, you have some answers now! You might be someone who wishes there were more hours in the day to get away from work and just let your hair down. Or you could be looking to make new connections and meet some fresh faces. Maybe you are looking for the love of your life! You won’t meet anyone by not getting out there and trying, so why not give it a shot?
