We are inundated with them. So many to choose from. Which one is for me? Which one is not for me? They all seem the same. They all seem confusing. It is an endless landmine in the dating app world.
Navigating the Dating App World
Index
- The Challenge of Choice
- Essential Guidelines
- Protecting Your Privacy
- Photo Guidelines
- Communication Best Practices
- Personal Information Safety
- Conclusion
The Challenge of Choice
We are inundated with them. So many to choose from. Which one is for me? Which one is not for me? They all seem the same. They all seem confusing. It is an endless landmine in the dating app world. Which app is right for you is a tough one. Only you know what you like, font like, and whether the site feels comfortable and intuitive for you. That can only come about in lots of trial and error.
Also, a quick internet search will show you the most popular ones, the price tags that go along with them, and the proverbial success rate that they advertise. Rather lets try the do and font of dating apps, once you find one you like, or find several that you are trying out. The definite dos of online dating in the virtual world.
Essential Guidelines
Politeness Matters
Always be polite. It can't be said a million times, being rude to someone is never going to work in real life much less in the virtual world. The written word text can be taken a million different ways between two people, and at times there will be friction. Simply take a deep breath, ask the other person what they meant, or for some further clarification. Don't be so easy to judge online, and don't take everything so literally. Remember politeness and kindness go a long way online. It separates you from the rest, and believe me, people you are interested in will indeed notice this behaviour as a big positive.
Protecting Your Privacy
Privacy
Just because you are online does not mean you are anonymous. Make sure to follow certain rules to limit what you put out there. I am not saying to use fake photos - that's a big no no - rather, do not use your real name, or even your real city at times. Make no attempts to use photos that can be traced to your social media accounts. Use new photos made specifically for that site. Do not give details away of your life - such as your workplace, the street you live in, nearby stores, etc. This is all common sense, but, better to be safe than sorry in the virtual dating world.
Photo Guidelines
Types of Photos to use.
1. You want to use photos that attract people. So, do not use fake photos - you will be eventually caught out, and be embarrassed. No one likes a catfish. The photos you decide on make sure they are not sexual in nature. It just does not work well. Use discretion and use a wide variety of photos.
2. Make sure the lighting is good. If the lighting is not good, there are many free editing software to bring out the best in your photo. Also, keep the editing of your photo within reason. So many people, of both sexes, go overboard, and edit their photo so much you cant even ecoregion them any more.
3. Try to make your photo your best, with good lighting. a good smile (no frowns or serious faces), but not to the extent of being photoshopped till you are not that person. The best illustration of this is when Butters has a photo of Kim Kardashian. When he is told that she is an actual troll, and looks nothing like her photos. The point being, she is so airbrushed, touched up, chopped up, you are looking at an imaginary figure. That is something you do not want. Do not play or get involved with that photo shop game.
Communication Best Practices
When finally chatting with someone. Act in dating app conversations as you would act in real life. That is polite, interested, not rude, and asks questions. Always ask questions of the other party. Do not be overtly sexual right off the bat - who likes that other than teenagers? Also do not be sexually suggestive as well - it is not a good look. If you have a sense of humour even better. However, one person's sense of humour is another person's trigger zone. Be careful and way of the other person you are talking to before you are making jokes. Remember, in text, sometimes jokes don’t work well at all, unless a little help is given in context, which then may kill the joke or vibe. At first, keep your jokes to a minimum, or restrict what your jokes will be so as not to offend the person right away. Jokes can sometimes be bombshells in a starting introduction, so you don’t want to say anything that can scare, spook, or put a giant red flag on you. Caution is always a good thing in this area in the beginning.
* When chatting, try to be polite as you would be in real life. Try to ask sincere questions. Remove suggestive questions.
* Use humor as per case basis. Slow and inoffensive as the date goes.
* Keep first conversations light. Avoid politics.
Personal Information Safety
Private information. Common sense should always dictate what you do, sometimes called conventional wisdom. Do not ever give out personal information. This should be ingrained in you since a little one, so there should be no surprises here. However, time and time again you will read about people who have given out personal information. It will never stop. There will always be a small number of people, who for some strange reason, decide that it's best to give out their personal information - such as a phone number, address, place of work, or social insurance number. Do not do this. Repeat, do not do this.
* Never give your personal details to someone.
* Be cautious with any info you receive from your date.
* Maintain a positive and healthy attitude with some skepticism. .
Who they are.
Again, common sense plays the common denominator here. Just because someone tells you things does not make it real or true. Yet, we have countless horror stories of people later saying, “I did not know this about them”, and other versions of this. Readers, remember for the very few out there, do not take the people you are talking with - be it on any dating app - what they say as the gospel's truth. Be wary, be cautious. Everyone is trying to impress everyone out there, the internet's main function it seems, in the dating world. This is nothing new, and should come as no surprise to anyone in this day and age.
Conclusion
Godspeed and good luck as the saying goes. In that countless ocean of the dating pool, with hard work, perseverance, the odds are in your favour that you will find someone. That's all you can ask for.
1. Dating questionnaire:
1. What are some of your passions in life?
2. What are your plans for this year in terms of relationships?
3. Name three things that you find attractive in a mate?
4. Top 3 dealbreakers on date?
5. Top 3 date suggestions that are easy.
2. Tools:
- Tinder
- Bumble
- iluvsugar
3. Important Keywords:
- Your Online dating safety
- Your Privacy
- Watching out for Scams
- New Digital security
1. Written By: Anthony Rand. B.A., B.A., LL.M.
2. About the Author
Anthony Rand is a relationship expert with over 35 years of experience in the dating world. He has helped individuals navigate the complexities of modern relationships. He has authored numerous articles on topics ranging from online dating strategies to building lasting relationships. He holds degrees, including an LL.M. (Master of Laws) and two Bachelor of Arts degrees.
3. Disclaimer
Please remember, there is much variation and diversity in life. Within this variation come various expectations and differences. What may work in the article above may not work for others. While this article does provide great insight and strong fundamentals it cannot answer all the issues. It is limited in its scope, since every relationship is different. Follow your heart and mind to see what works best for you.
Updated February 17/2025
Version 1.1