Are you debating putting in the effort to start online dating? Are you stalling because you’re wondering if it’s even worth it? We hear you! Online dating, especially for beginners, can be intimidating. However, once you get started, it’s actually really easy and there are a lot of benefits to online dating.
From being able to expand your dating pool to filtering people based on your preferences, dating online can be a total game changer. Let’s look at some of the pros to internet dating!
Advantages of Online Dating
1. Increase Your Options
Before internet dating, you had to rely on your circle of friends or chance encounters to meet that special someone. You may have even found yourself at the mercy of a blind date set up by your mother. Thanks to dating sites, you have a less awkward way of meeting new people.
Your social circles may be limited. However, when you date online, you open yourself up to a lot more people that you’d probably never run into during your day-to-day activities. This increases the amount of people you are able to interact with and see if there is a potential spark there.
2. Variety of Potential Dates
When you stick to your close social circles and the main people you interact with, you generally limit yourself to the type of people you meet. For example, if you work at a law firm and enjoy rock climbing, you probably hang out with other lawyers and rock climbers. You might be missing out on a special someone who is outside of your main hobbies and social groups.
Online dating helps you expand into different types of people. In the online dating world, you’ll find people of varying hobbies, interests, backgrounds, and ethnicities. This can make dating more fun and help you discover new things and people to enjoy them with.
3. Convenience
If you’re really busy and not wanting to dip into the dating pool at work, finding someone to date can be a hassle! Dating sites are a really convenient way to meet people.
The setup is usually pretty quick and straightforward. After that, the amount of time and effort you put into it is up to you. You can browse profiles and chat with people at your convenience.
4. More Control Over the Process
When you date online, you’re in the driver’s seat. You can decide who you want to talk to and are able to be more selective about who you end up meeting. You’re not at the mercy of chance encounters or dates set up by your friends.
One of the beautiful things about online dating is that you can reach out to whoever you want to. You can respond to only the people who interest you. And the best part is, you can stop talking to anyone at any time. Apps like Tinder give you an added control of only people who are matched (both like each other first) being able to message each other. Apps like Bumble give females even more control by only allowing women to reach out to men for the first interaction.
5. Greater Chance of Successful Matches
When perusing dating profiles, you can see a lot of information about potential matches. Most apps have people fill out portions on what they’re looking for, what their interests are, and what is important to them in a partner.
You wouldn’t find out a lot of this information from someone until after the first few dates if you were to just meet them in person. You can use all of this information to your advantage to make sure the person is a good fit for you and if you fit their criteria too. Plus, it saves you the awkwardness of asking someone you just met if they want kids in the future or if they’re just looking for a hookup.
Learn how to get more likes and successful matches on the Tinder app here.
6. Faster Way to Find a Date
If you’re looking to meet someone new, it may take a while. With online dating, you can start talking to people much sooner and start to ask people out on dates when you feel like there’s a connection. This is much faster than scoping out your regular spots and waiting for other singles to appear.
7. Reduced Anxiety Over Meeting People
If you have a bit of social anxiety the thought of dating new people probably sounds like a nightmare. With online dating you can limit your stress about meeting someone new.
Although it won’t get rid of all your nerves, being able to chat with someone before actually meeting up can help you get to know them first. So, when you finally meet, it’s not like you’re talking with a complete stranger. You can plan some topics of conversation out based on their profile and your previous conversations so you don’t need to feel flustered while on your date.
8. Increased Safety
Meeting someone online allows you to plan things and be safe when you’re dating. Although there are some instances where people get catfished, it’s not generally the case.
When planning a date with someone you meet online you can take some extra steps to be safe. You can send their picture, name, and details of your date to a close friend or family member that you trust. If you show up and they aren’t who they said they were online, you can leave immediately to avoid any safety issues.
9. Avoid the Bar Scene
Sometimes it seems like the only place you can meet someone is at the bar or other places you don’t really want to be. While we know that a lot of people successfully meet their special person this way, it isn’t for everyone. Online dating saves you from feeling obligated to go to places and functions that you don’t really enjoy by letting you meet people from the comfort of your own home.
10. Reduction in Rejection
Although rejection still happens on dating sites, you’re less likely to get rejected there than asking someone out that you meet socially. The people on dating sites are actively looking for dates and are open to meeting new people. Sites like Tinder that enable you to match with someone before talking to them allow you to ensure they at least find you attractive first.
11. Lower Cost
Dating apps are usually free to use unless you upgrade your account to access special features. Also, since you are able to do a lot of pre-screening online, you don’t waste your time on as many unsuccessful first dates. This can end up saving you a lot of money that you’d otherwise spend on coffee dates, dinner, and other things with people who don’t end up to be a match for you.
12. Ability to Meet People from All Over the World
If you’re willing to travel to meet your special someone, online dating makes it possible for you to meet people from different areas. You don’t have to start as far as other countries, but you can if you want to. Even increasing your search to nearby locations other than the exact place you live in will bring you many more possibilities.
13. Ability to Find Someone With Similar Interests
If your perfect mate must love dogs or play tennis, you can filter them out of the available singles online. You can be really specific with your dating profile headline or your about me section with what you’re looking for. You might be surprised by how many singles you find that have the same interests and passions that you do.
14. Increases Your Chances of People Looking For Something Serious
Some apps are better than others for finding serious potential partners. Most of the sites that we’ve tried out allow you to select what you’re looking for on their site. From hookups to relationships to marriage, you can select what you’re there for. While choosing a serious relationship or marriage intention might seem like a big step, it will allow you to filter out people who aren’t as serious.
15. Ability to Filter Out Non-Matches
Just like the ability to filter by things you do want, you can often filter potential matches based on things you don’t want as well. For example, Plenty of Fish allows users to filter people in your search by their age, intent, physical appearance, background, and lifestyle choices. If you don’t want to date a smoker, you can filter them out so you don’t waste your time.
16. Ensure You’re Physically Attracted
We know that sometimes dating profile pictures aren’t completely honest. However, as long as the person isn’t using an old photo, you can get a good idea of what they look like before you meet. It’s a huge plus for online dating to be able to make sure that you’re physically attracted to someone before you start talking to them. Not that looks are everything, but it’s good to make sure you’re physically compatible.
17. Match Intellectually
If spelling and grammar are important to you, you’ll quickly be able to filter out people who don’t fit your standards. By reading their profile and chatting with potential matches, you can make sure that the person meets your intellectual needs before you spend time with them. Likewise, if they are too nerdy for you, you can move on to the next person.
18. Low Pressure
The nature of online dating is very non-committal when you’re just getting to know someone. You don’t have to feel pressured to make it work with someone who doesn’t seem like a great match. You can simply say so and move on. Since neither of you had to put a ton of effort into meeting and getting to know each other, it’s not a big deal if it’s not a love connection.
19. Builds Confidence
If you’re new to the dating scene or getting back out there after a long time away, online dating is a good way to build back your confidence. You might fumble a few conversations at first, but it’s a great way to dust off your cobwebs and get out there. Once you have a few successful conversations going, you’ll start to feel more confident about dating.
20. Gives You Experience
If anything, online dating will give you some experience with the dating world. Even if you aren’t successful. You may learn some new things that you want or don’t want out of a partner. You may also learn that you’re willing to be flexible on some things if the right person comes along.
You’ll gain communication skills while chatting as well as interaction skills if you go out on a few dates. Whatever you learn from dating online can help you in the future. The more experience you have, the less nerves you’ll have and mistakes you’ll make when meeting someone new.
Pros of Online Dating FAQ
How much does online dating cost?
This can depend on the site you’re using. Some sites are free, while others can have subscription fees. In general, online dating is a really inexpensive way to meet people.
Is online dating safe?
Online dating can be really safe as long as you take the right precautions. You should always keep your personal information private. Don’t disclose your full name, address, or any other personal information. Let a friend know if you are going out on a date and let them know who you’re going with.
How long does it take to meet someone from an online dating site?
This is completely up to you! You can chat with someone online for months before you ever meet them. Or, you can meet someone the very same day you start talking to them. It all depends on how you feel and how strong the connection between you is.
Conclusion
While there are definitely cons to online dating, there are enough good things about online dating to make it worth your while. You can meet new people who are outside of your normal social circle, find those who share your interests, get to know people better before you meet them, and build confidence along with other benefits. If you’re thinking about jumping on a dating app and getting out there, this is your sign to do it! You might be surprised at how much fun you have.
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