The dating world is huge and many of us are online trying to swipe, tap, like and chat our way into a new and lasting relationship. Dating online doesn’t mean the challenges of dating are gone; unfortunately, rejecting and being rejected is just as common. Despite this, being respectful online is just as important as in real life.
There may be a screen between you and your online match, but that doesn’t mean that you can treat them any differently or without respect. This is your opportunity to speak to whoever you like, but appropriately. Everyone deserves to be respected online so that everybody can feel safe and have a good time.
It can be hard staring at your screen and wondering how to spark up a conversation between you and your match, but all is not lost! Before you begin to tackle the dating world through your phone, read these helpful do’s and don’ts that will help you when talking to your matches.
- Message your matches first
Stop waiting for them to send the first one and just start a conversation, propose a funny or difficult ‘would you rather or how do you’ question or unique, specific compliments, they usually work the best. If you need some help in starting off that message, research has shown that first messages to men that mention dinner, drinks, or lunch get 75% more responses, so using them might help you secure a date or at least, a response. Check US-reviews for suggestions about online dating platforms.
- Don’t rely on humor or sexual innuendo
Senses of humor can differ depending on gender, age, culture, mood, or ethnicity or the context in which the humor is used. Given the fact that you’re not going to be privy to any of this up front. It is advisable to be as straightforward as possible.
- Be precise
When updating or filling your profile on online dating platforms, be as specific as possible. Think about who you are and what makes you unusual and list both your successes and your failures. Mentions of what you take for dinner, or your favorite coffee are meaningless. Instead, you might say, “I’m a quiet person who really loves cooking, but also likes camping.” Saying, “I’m looking for someone who is not afraid of snakes, but also is not a carnivore” sets you apart as a vegetarian camper with a big vocabulary.
- DON’T fall into the trap of a sob story
One of the reasons you need to be particularly careful when meeting people online is because scammers can be very clever in their manipulative techniques. One common tactic is for them to tell some form of sob story that will make you feel sorry for them and potentially do something you wouldn’t normally. But it’s easy to get wrapped up in it. Always speak openly about the people you’re speaking to online with friends and family because they can help see if something seems suspicious, and help you to follow safe online dating practices.
- DON’T rush into meeting
If you’re quickly forming a connection with someone you’ve met online, it may be tempting to meet as soon as possible. But your new feelings could be clouding your judgment. There’s no rush to meet. Simply take some time getting to know their interests and hobbies and meet them once you feel totally comfortable and ready. You can search for best dating sites on google