The Online Dating Survival Guide for 2020

Your on-again, off-again relationship has finally become permanently just a memory. And now that you鈥檝e become accustomed to having dates on the weekend, you find yourself with no dates, no prospects and very little to do. Hanging with friends doesn鈥檛 sound too exciting, and you鈥檙e just not into the bar or singles scene. So, what should you do?

Your friends are encouraging you to try online dating, but you haven鈥檛 done it before and you鈥檙e just not sure how to go about it. Well, there are a lot of reasons people try online dating, and if you鈥檙e currently not attached to someone, it鈥檚 the perfect time to try. If you鈥檙e new to online dating, there are some things you should know 鈥 and some things to watch out for as you begin your journey.

Without realising it, people tell you a lot about themselves without even saying a word. It鈥檚 how they text or email, and what topics they bring up. For example, if you鈥檙e on a dating site or app and someone starts talking about sex, that鈥檚 a signal to say 鈥渁dios鈥 and move on to someone else. It鈥檚 just not appropriate to bring this up before you even meet, and if that鈥檚 what they鈥檙e looking for, have them look somewhere else.

 

The Advantages of Online Dating

Many dating sites have rating or scoring systems to see if you鈥檙e a match with someone. This is a good thing, and when you use one of these sites, you get to be choosy! Make sure you share common interests with the person and use the site鈥檚 scoring system to ensure that you鈥檙e at least a 60% match with that person. Anything less and you are probably just wasting your time.

 

Know Who You鈥檙e Talking to

One of the downsides of online dating is that some people put up a profile that isn鈥檛 really accurate or use names and photos that hide their real identity. One of the ways you can be sire to stay safe when you鈥檙e online is to know exactly whom you鈥檙e talking to or communicating with.

Perhaps the best way to do this is to use an online tool that will reveal a person鈥檚 true identity by using their name, email address or their phone number. Let鈥檚 say you do a search on Nuwber and it doesn鈥檛 match with who they say they are 鈥 what should you do? Delete any and all communications and correspondence with them and notify the dating site. You鈥檒l be doing others a huge favor by exposing the fake, and you will be saving yourself a lot of potential problems. Here鈥檚 another thing: if they do match up, you can then use Nuwber to get additional info on that person, like any social media profiles, police records and other key data.

If the person has posted a photo and they look like they just stepped out of a magazine ad, check them out to be sure it鈥檚 really their photo. You can use a service like to search the web for images that match the person or go to iand click on the photo icon. Upload their image and then check out the search results. You may be pleasantly surprised or bitterly disappointed.

Examine their profile with a fine-tooth comb. This is key, because hidden in all that prose are tips on who that person really is. So, don鈥檛 just skim a profile, really read it. See what they say about themselves and if any red flags appear, move on!

 

Watch for These Key Warning Signs

Sadly, there are some people who use online dating sites to scam people who are really interested in meeting a new potential dating partner. If you know the key warning signs, you can avoid heartbreak and heartaches as well.

One warning sign is how they come on to you 鈥 if it鈥檚 too fast, run away! Nobody falls in love with you after a few texts or emails! You use these sites to get to know the other person, and if they profess their love for you say goodbye quickly and firmly!

Another warning sign is when they ask for money. You may get a sob story about a sick sister or mother, or you may hear about how they just lost their job and that they鈥檇 really like to fly out and meet you. Wish them well, but keep your checkbook closed!

Here鈥檚 another one that scammers like to use: 鈥渓et鈥檚 take our conversation private.鈥 Don鈥檛 do it! The dating site has rules for your protection, and one of those rules is not to go offline with your conversations. If at any time the person makes you feel uncomfortable with what they鈥檙e suggesting, end it. Fast!

You can check out the recommendations for online dating. Most legitimate dating websites follow their rules and recommendations, and for your safety and security, so should you!

By following these simple rules, you鈥檒l have a safe, enjoyable experience and could end up meeting the person of your dreams.