Meeting People Online: Internet Dating Tips

Let’s face it. If you’re single in this day and age, it can be hard to meet people the traditional way—especially if you have a pretty busy schedule that doesn’t allow much free time for you to get out and socialize. Fortunately, with the advancement of technology, internet dating has created a new way of meeting people without even having to leave the comfort of your home.

Tips tor Meeting New People Online

The internet can be a great way to connect with people. Social media networks provide a means for connecting with people you may already know, including family and friends. These platforms can be an ideal way to maintain relationships with important people in your life and a way to communicate with people who live far away and those who you don’t get to see and/or talk with very often.

The internet can also be a great way to meet new people, but if you’re new to the idea of meeting people online, there are a few things you should know before you get started.

Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide a way for you to stay connected with your friends and family, or you can attempt to meet new people and make new friends. You can also follow your favorite celebrities and keep up with current news, events, and trends. These sites are not intended for internet dating purposes, although sometimes people will try to use them that way.

Platforms like MeetMe and MocoSpace are free sites designed for individuals who are looking to meet new people for friendship, networking and/or dating. You can create profiles, post photos, search and browse other profiles, and send and receive messages from other individuals who are looking to meet new people as well.

Dating Sites

Specialized dating sites like PlentyofFish, Match.com, and Zoosk offer both free and paid-level memberships for singles who are seeking a potential mate. You can create a profile, post photos, browse, search and send “flirts” to other members. Some of these sites also let you send and receive messages for free, while others will require you to pay a membership fee before you can contact other members.

Dating Apps

Android and iOS dating applications like Badoo and Hi5 are specifically designed to help members meet new people for friendship and/or dating. These apps have features similar to those of dating websites. Basic level membership is free, and they offer extra app “perks” for nominal fees.

Making Contact

When you find someone you’re interested in, you can choose to initiate contact with that person by sending them a message. Also, other users who are interested in you can send you messages, and you can decide to reply if you are interested in chatting with them. Sometimes it can take a while to find someone you really like, so try to be patient if you don’t meet someone interesting right away.

Once you’ve found someone who sparks your interest, it’s a good idea to chat with them for a bit and get to know a little more about them before you give out your personal contact information, such as your email address, phone number and/or home address. I would also recommend talking to them on the phone a few times before deciding to meet them in person. This way, you can at least determine if you and that person share enough interests to hold a meaningful and interesting conversation with one another.

If you decide you’re ready to meet someone in person, for the first date you should meet them in a public place where you feel comfortable and safe. Places like restaurants, cafés, or movie theaters are some good ideas for first-time meeting places. Once you get past the first date, the process begins to feel just like traditional dating.

Online Dating Vs. Traditional Dating

Some people actually prefer online dating to the traditional way of meeting people because you have the opportunity to get a feel for someone’s personality, background and relationship goals before giving out any contact information. When meeting people the classic way, you don’t know anything about them except for what they look like when you give them your contact info. Either way, you’ll have to spend time with them to get know more about the kind of person they are.

Internet dating really doesn’t pose much more risk than traditional dating. In either case, you are meeting a stranger, and you should utilize common sense in either situation. Yes, people can be dishonest and misrepresent themselves online, but they can do the same thing in person as well. The best thing to do is use your common sense and logic when you meet people online, and make sure you feel comfortable before deciding to meet them in person.

If you’re single, and don’t have a lot of time to get out and mingle, online dating may be a good option for you. You never know, you might just end up meeting the man or woman of your dreams!