Since the rise of social media, online dating has become much more commonplace. In fact, according to a survey by Statista, as of 2018, approximately 66% of American adults have either dated or entered into a long-term relationship with someone they first met online.
However, with this new way of meeting people comes a whole new set of rules and guidelines that you need to follow.
Whether you’re on Tinder or Facebook Dating, there are some essential tips and tricks that will help your love life go from awkward to awesome faster than you can say “last call.” Read on for some useful dating etiquette advice that will help you get the most out of your online dating experience.
Don’t Meet Up With Someone You Just Met Online
Before you even think about meeting with someone you’ve met online, check their profile for any red flags or warning signs. If you see that the person has blocked or hidden their profile, lied about their age or location, or is using inappropriate or sexual language, do not meet with them, and report them to the dating site immediately.
Another important thing to note is that you should never reveal any personal information about yourself until you’ve met the person face to face. If they are persistent about meeting with you before you even exchange numbers, they may be dangerous.
Be Discreet When Discussing Details Of Your Meeting Location
While it’s important that you find a place where you feel comfortable and safe, you don’t want to be so obvious that you’re meeting someone that everyone around you knows. If you’ve been talking to someone and they’ve asked you to meet up with them, try to pick a place that isn’t too obvious.
For example, if you want to meet at a coffee shop, try to find a place that isn’t too close to your workplace or where anyone you know might be. If you’re meeting at a park, try to find a spot that isn’t too close to playgrounds or children’s areas.
Don’t Give Out Your Phone Number Too Quickly
This is something you’ll want to be careful about because, at the end of the day, you do want to be able to communicate with the person you’re meeting so that you can come up with a plan and pick a location. However, the worst thing you can do is exchange numbers too quickly or give out your phone number to someone you’ve just met online.
When you first meet someone, they are unknown to you, and you are unknown to them. So, when you give them your phone number, you are putting yourself in a vulnerable situation. You are giving that person the ability to call you whenever they please, so you can’t be sure if they will ever use this number to reach you.
Don’t Go To A Hotel Room Or Any Private Location Without Checking It First
Again, this is something you will want to make sure you are cautious about. If you’ve met someone online and you want to go to their house or pick a private location, like a hotel room, make sure you check out the place first. If you can, bring someone with you or go during the day so that you can scope out the building and make sure it doesn’t look overly suspicious or sketchy.
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If you’re going to someone’s house, try to bring someone with you, even if it’s a friend you’ve met online. You’re meeting someone you don’t know, so you want to be as cautious as possible.
Don’t Be Afraid To Walk Away
The best dating advice for online dating is to be aware of your surroundings and be conscious of the people around you. If you ever feel uncomfortable in a situation, don’t be afraid to walk away.
While it’s important not to be rude, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you’re in a situation where you feel unsafe or you start to feel like something isn’t right, trust your instincts and walk away. You don’t need to stay in that situation any longer than you need to, especially if you feel like you’re in danger.
Don’t misrepresent yourself or what you are looking for
You don’t want to misrepresent yourself or lie about what you’re looking for in a relationship, but you also don’t want to be too upfront. After all, you’re trying to find a relationship, and you don’t want to scare the person away by saying that you’re looking for a boyfriend or girlfriend right away.
When you first start out, try not to mention specifics like marriage or kids. You want to keep the conversation open-ended. This way, you won’t scare anyone off, and you’ll be able to see who is interested in talking to you without any restrictions or limitations placed on the conversation.
Don’t give out your phone number too quickly
This is something you’ll want to be careful about because, at the end of the day, you do want to be able to communicate with the person you’re meeting so that you can come up with a plan and pick a location. However, the worst thing you can do is exchange numbers too quickly or give out your phone number to someone you’ve just met online.
When you first meet someone, they are unknown to you, and you are unknown to them. So, when you give them your phone number, you are putting yourself in a vulnerable situation. You are giving that person the ability to call you whenever they please, so you can’t be sure if they will ever use this number to reach you.
Don’t go to a hotel room or any private location without checking it first
Again, this is something you will want to make sure you are cautious about. If you’ve met someone online and you want to go to their house or pick a private location, like a hotel room, make sure you check out the place first. If you can, bring someone with you or go during the day so that you can scope out the building and make sure it doesn’t look overly suspicious or sketchy.
If you’re going to someone’s house, try to bring someone with you, even if it’s a friend you’ve met online. You’re meeting someone you don’t know, so you want to be as cautious as possible.
Do use common sense and be conscious of safety measures
If you follow all of the tips laid out above, you’ll be well on your way to having a safe and successful online dating experience. However, while following these tips will help you tremendously, they won’t replace common sense and being conscious of safety measures.
You should always meet in a public place, even if you’ve talked to someone for a while and feel comfortable with them. You should also always let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to be back again.
Also, don’t give out too much information about yourself online. Keep your social media accounts private and make sure that you’re not posting anything that could give away too much information about yourself.
Do take your time when meeting new people
While you want to be cautious and diligent when meeting people online, you don’t want to rush things or try to meet people before you’re ready. You want to make sure that you’re doing everything in your power to make sure these first dates go smoothly. However, you also don’t want to rush things.
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You don’t want to show up to the date feeling nervous and anxious. You want to be able to relax, have fun, and enjoy yourself. If you put too much pressure on yourself to meet someone right away, you could end up embarrassing yourself and scaring the person off.
Don’t be afraid to be yourself
Finally, don’t be afraid to be yourself. You’re going to be putting yourself out there, meeting new people, and talking about things that are important to you. You may be nervous, but that’s okay.
You don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not just to impress someone or make them like you. So long as you are being genuine and honest, it’s okay if someone doesn’t like you.
