Studies have shown that the fastest growing category of online dating services is the adult segment. As an older person looking for love and companionship, this can be a good option. But you need to practice caution. Below are some effective ways for safe online dating;
1. You must be ready for the date
Before you can find a healthy relationship, you must be ready for a date. Don’t go in search of a date or involve in one if you are still getting over a past hurt or pains from a relation that never worked out. Before you can have a great dating adventure, you need to be open, feel positive and ready for the dating adventure. Never intend for a date to get over past relationship pains. You can never get the right date in this mood and state of mind. Worse still, you might end up with someone who only pities your status but does not genuinely love you.
2. Do your research
If you have made up your mind to try online dating as an option, please don’t just jump in and start having fun. Many negative issues have been reported about online dating sites. Do your homework to research which dating site is best for you. There are dating sites “you pay to participate” while there are others “you freely participate”. You should know that fake identities can be easily created on free dating sites more easily than the other. You are safer where everyone uses a credit card and complete anonymity is never given a chance.
3. Involve your friends
Ensure to ask your friend’s opinion about your decision. Even during the process of signing up, they can help you meet potential dates by guiding you with your profile contents. What seems attractive to you might seem the opposite to them. They can help you choose a good profile picture, and fill up the data forms with positive information about yourself, like your hobbies and other interests. Let your friends have a review of your profile, before letting it go live.
4. Expand your options
When answering questions about what you are looking for on the dating site, please endeavor to elaborate your options. Some sites may ask what you do or don’t need in a date. Giving too long answers may create chances of missing the most important ones, so just go straight to the most needed qualities or disqualifying ones and save the time. Save the stress wanting to know if he has a master’s degree or owns a house. Whether he smokes, gambles or drinks, I think, should be more important. Guess you think that way too!
5. Do away with platitude when setting up your profile
Common things people write about themselves may not portray your originality. This can be seen when you visit other people’s profiles and see what their hobbies are and what they like or don’t. It’s ok to have common hobbies or experiences but ensure to display some originality or distinctive values. Whatever you write about yourself, ensure it portrays your choices and goals, and that it makes you distinct from others.
6. Be cautious and stay safe
Whether you meet someone or someone meets you, be cautious. At first, do try to talk on the mobile phone instead of using your home phone which can be traced to your home address. Intending to meet face to face with a date? Please meet in a public place on a first date. An ideal place can be a coffee shop. Never let a date drive you anywhere or walk you to your vehicle in a secret or hidden place until you are confident he is what he says or know them better. It’s true that most people are well-meaning and genuine but this is not a risk you should take or you might end up with a very negative experience.
7. Be patient
Online dating has this advantage of helping you meet people you could never have met otherwise. On the contrary, this could be a disadvantage too. You are meeting people you really don’t know or what they have been all their life. What they tell you doesn’t make them genuine or honest. You don’t know anyone who can vouch for them. Trusting people automatically have put many people in serious issues. This is the major reason why many people will speak ill of online dating. Even while meeting people face to face, it takes some time to know if people are really who they claim to be, so take your time. It doesn’t matter how sincere they claim to be. You should be honest about what you want and expect that from date too. Some online daters are just out there to have fun, have a good time with no strings attached. Knowing what a date wants or what you want is a good guide to setting your boundaries. Some people are so lucky to find the right person immediately when they sign up with an online dating site. This may not be everyone’s experience. It can take many dates to meet the right date for you and this is worth it at the end. You will definitely find that special person for you if you take your time and make the effort.
