Dos & Don'ts For Online Dating

Life is most certainly not a fairy tale and if you're hoping to meet your soulmate with love at first sight then I'm sorry to say that you're going to be waiting a very long time. The world has changed a lot and it's becoming more difficult to meet people face to face. Especially after this whole pandemic. That's why you're more likely to meet the love of your life through online dating. Now this can be scary for many especially with the whole stranger danger concept. 

Being single for the longest time, I was not sure about online dating. Especially because with apps like Tinder usually people are on there for one thing only and nothing serious. It's a struggle but sometimes you got to give a try because your future partner could be on there. From my experience of online dating and recently going back to online dating, I thought I'd share a list of some points that you may need to consider when going into online dating. 

Please note this post may not be suitable for people under 16 as I do mention a few more adult topics. You have been warned.

1. Do have a profile picture of just yourself. Group photos can be fine but make sure you have one or two where it is just you. Makes the person know who the person they're talking to looks like. 

2. Don't not have a profile picture. No profile picture = Catfish. Avoid people with no profile picture because who knows what or who they are. Just avoid these non-profile picture dating app people. 

3. Do have a reason why you're online dating. Is it just for fun, casual dating, something serious? You're going to get the question a lot about what you're looking for so have an answer prepared. 

4. Don't give out too much information. Sometimes given out too much information like why your last relationship ended or being a virgin or where you live. Obviously the number one rule of anything online is never give out personal details. Also too much information like your turn ons could turn someone off in an instant. 

5. Do be open minded. Looks aren't everything. Sometimes the good looking ones turn out to be the massive a**h****. Try to be open minded about someone if they message you. They could turn out to be a really nice person who you have so much in common. Don't just rely on the ones you think are good looking. Obviously, you may have a type and are allowed to go for it but just be open minded. You may be very surprised. 

6. Don't be needy. Oh boy. This one happens a lot. You start messaging a person and they think you're the best looking person so put all your trust in them. Please don't be needy. That can also be a turn off to some people if you're too needy or overbearing. Especially if you're still messaging on the dating app. Try to play it cool and not get to overly attached on the first day of messaging each other. 

7. Do give out your number. Now I know I said don't give out too much information but sometimes it's easier to message on WhatsApp rather than the dating app. Obviously don't give it out straight away but if they ask for it after you've been messaging back and forth then do give it out. Don't forget though it's very easy to block numbers if things aren't going too well. 

8. Don't send nudes. This may be a very tempting thing to do. Especially if the messages start to get a little dirty but trust me when I say don't do it. It's not worth it. You'll regret it. If you're tempted watch one of those PSAs about sending nudes. You don't know what that person will do with your nudes. Also I don't see the point of nudes. The amount of d*** and boxer pics I've got have not ever got me excited. Especially if what I'm seeing isn't that great. Just be honest with the person and say no. If they start getting persistent about it then maybe it's time to block them because clearly, they just want one thing at this point. So trust me when I say, do not send nudes.

9. Do keep your options open. You may feel a little bit like a player if you are messaging quite a few people and even more so if you've moved on to texting each other. I've learned that it's okay to do that because as the saying goes don't put all your eggs in one basket because they might crack. The same goes for online dating. As you get to know each other, you might start to not like this person and could be disappointed when you chose them over someone else. Try to keep the options open and see how things go with other people. Obviously, there may be someone you like more than others and that's okay too. Don't throw away all your chances with one person on someone that might not be good for you. Also be understanding. We all have our baggage, faults, and issues. Nobody is perfect.

10. Don't keep it all a secret. Trust me. You don't truly know somebody online. It may seem embarrassing to you to tell someone you're online dating but trust me, you need to tell someone. Especially if you decide to meet someone from online dating. Tell someone who you're meeting. Heck have them come with you in secret so they can keep an eye out. Your safety is way more important than a potential date. This does lead me on to my next point. 

11. Don't rush into meeting someone online. It may seem like things are going really well and you may want to meet up in person. Sometimes things go better messaging but face to face could be slightly different. For starters, do you actually know what they look like? Get them to send you a selfie on snapchat and send them one of yourself. Profile pictures are the perfect version of ourselves but what about are normal everyday self. The beauty of this day and age is you can face time so you can actually meet face to face over the phone. I know it may seem scary but do give it a go because if you can't do it on face time then how will you be face to face. Don't feel pressure though to meet as soon as possible. After all it still is a stranger online and you can never be too careful. They need to understand if you're not ready to meet yet. 

12. Do meet in a public place. Don't meet for the first time at your home or their home because you're literally asking to me murdered or burgled from. Meet in a public place where there are witnesses. Go somewhere that is not close to your home too and make sure they don't follow you home after you leave. Of course, you may want to bring them back home and that is okay too. Just make sure you really know what you're doing before inviting them home or going back with them. You can say you're not ready and they will need to accept that. If they don't then say goodbye and be on your way. 

13. Don't give it up if you don't want to. This is for people who have not done the deed and have not had their first time. Honestly there is no pressure to go through with it. Especially if you do not want to. Life is not all about sex. Sex is great but there is a lot of things better than sex. I've learned that self-pleasure can be far less complicated and more satisfying in some cases. Also if you think it will be just like those adult videos. Believe me it's not. It's messier and not all that perfect. 

14. Do use protection. I don't care if they say they're allergic to condoms or are not on birth control. Use some form of protection for a number of reasons e.g. pregnancy, infection etc. You do not know this person or their sexual history. They could have had unprotected sex the day before you met for the first time. You don't know. Just use protection if you are going through with the deed. You do not need a pregnancy scare or an STD from someone you don't even know. 

15. Don't worry if you don't want to see them again. There are plenty of fish in the sea and maybe meeting face to face made you realise that you don't like them. Just be nice about it and don't complete ghost them. Say you're not interested and move on. Plus there is a beautiful block button just to be extra sure they won't get in touch again. Online dating is great fun and you're always going to get some creepy weirdos, but you will find the ones you like eventually. Just keep trying and if you follow this dos and don'ts guide, you'll be just fine. 

Anyway, that's all my dos and don'ts for online dating. I'm sure there are plenty more dos and don'ts to online dating that I haven't thought of yet. Honestly, it's up to you how quickly or slowly you take online dating and also you don't actually have to try online dating if you don't want to. Just do what makes you happy and don't change yourself for anyone. 

That's all I have to say for now. Thank you for reading my blog and I'll be back soon with another blog post. 

See you then. 

Megan x 

*This is not a sponsored post* 

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