Facebook And Online Dating

Is Facebook really a dating site? Really? It might sound funny to some, but the reality is many people do meet and start dating via Facebook. This social networking site is free and is primarily used for connecting with friends, but some people also use it to meet potential dates. Unlike dating sites where you have to pay membership fees, Facebook is gratis for everyone to join and use. The primary purpose of creating a Facebook page is to connect with friends or to make new online friends with common interests. Also, you can use Facebook to "like" pages about your interests, and many celebrities, politicians, writers, and bloggers have large followings because of likes on Facebook.

Fellow fans of a musician or a writer might even meet a few new friends along the way. Also, posting comments in Facebook groups started by your friends is another way to meet new friends. Along the way, you may meet one or more people that you would like to get to know a little bit better in person, which means you are going on a blind date! The dreaded blind date sounds really horrible, but hopefully, if the person you are communicating with on Facebook is not a total liar, you will know more about him or her than you would on the typical blind date. Here are a few safety tips for the first meeting with your Facebook friend.

1. Meet in a public place.

No matter how long you have been talking online, you should never agree to meet someone at their house or yours on the first date. Hopefully, since you both connected via Facebook then both of you will have some common interests, so you could arrange to meet somewhere like a Barnes and Noble or a sports bar. Another option is to meet at a mall food court if you both enjoy shopping and laid back surroundings. The goal is to suggest meeting in a public place where you both feel comfortable, and it can be as short and casual as just meeting for coffee at the local Starbucks. If your Facebook friend is unwilling to meet you in a public place, please consider that to be a red flag and do not meet this person.

2. Never get in a car with someone you just met online.

So the date is going very well and the two of you would like to spend the rest of the day together. Stop for a second and think about what the safest and most logical step will be in your situation. If your date suggests that you take his or her car and leave yours behind, insist on driving your vehicle because you like to drive. If you did not drive there let him or her know that you would like to meet another day because you just remembered you had to go home and finish a few chores. This may sound like a lie to your date, but your safety is far more important than what a new friend may think about you. If he or she is your true friend, then it will not matter if you postpone your date for another day.

3. Always have an exit strategy for dates that are not going well.

It is perfectly acceptable to cut a date short if you feel it is not going anywhere. Also, if your date makes you feel endangered in anyway, it is important to get out of there right away. You can make a polite excuse, but the point is get out of there.

If your date is nice, but you are not enthralled by his or her company, try to remember to be gracious and never insult anyone because we should always treat people with respect. In the event you may want to talk to him or her again in the future, tell them to send you an email or to get in touch again later. Nothing is set in stone and the first date may not always be the best place to get to know someone. If you are worried about being trapped into a three or four-hour dinner with your new friend, arrange to have your date at a place where the two of you will not feel compelled to linger such as a fast food restaurant.

3. Safety in numbers.

Arrange to have a double date with friends, which will give you more of a perspective on your new friend. When we are alone with someone we can only go off what they are saying to us, but in a social setting, we will be interacting and exchanging thoughts and ideas with many people. Your friends can offer invaluable insight as to whether this person is someone you should see again. Also, you can arrange to come to and leave the date with your friends, which will give you an extra safety net.

4. Enjoy yourself, but always take your time.

No matter how much fun you may be having with your new friend, always keep in mind you have just met this person in real life and are still getting to know him or her. Online friendships are much different than one in real life, so always take your time when getting to know someone. Remember to be safe and let your friends and family know when you go to meet a new person.