How to Make the Most Of Your Dating App Usage: What to Look Out for When Starting a New Relationship

The number of us using dating apps and online services in order to meet, find love, or just a simple hook-up, is growing rapidly. According to the most recent reports, over 320 million use dating apps regularly, and while this makes the process simpler and more accessible, it is something of a double-edged sword. 

There are some who are reticent about using dating apps to meet strangers, even though you arguably know more about those you might be about to meet via this route than anyone you might randomly converse with at a bar or any other setting. 

The use of online dating services is now something that many of us undertake without a second thought, but it is worth being extra cautious, both when meeting someone by chance or after perusing their profile on an app. 

For most men, the idea of using dating apps is something of a double-edged sword. You could see it as being a bit like being a kid in a candy store, not knowing where to look due to the sheer weight of options.

Alternatively, the amount of choice can itself represent something of a problem. After all, how do you stand out when there are millions upon millions of others doing likewise? Well, here are a few tips that may help you in terms of navigating the deep waters of online dating, as well as issues that may crop up when you think you’ve found the right partner, be that in the long-term sense or just for a hook-up.

Be Honest With Yourself

Are you looking for a long-term relationship or a bit of fun? The answer to this conundrum is important when you are out there among the dating pool. The online dating world has evolved at quite a speed, and in doing so, it has provided a massive array of options, and this makes it easier to find an app or service that is specific to your wants and needs. You should take advantage of this so as to avoid wasting your time and the time of others.

If you have a specific niche, maybe you are a Christian, over 50, or a vegan (or maybe all three), then you can find an online dating service that will be even more relevant to you and your desires, passions, and circumstances. Use this to your advantage.

All About First Impressions

Your dating profile is perhaps the most important aspect of your online dating journey. By all accounts, a good way to attract attention is to a) post a flattering picture of yourself (obviously) and b) also post pictures of you with your pets (if you have any, if not, borrow one or two), and c) photos of you with your mother are also said to be beneficial, as this would denote a person who has a good relationship with their family and are therefore dependable. 

It’s also felt that now that online dating is so popular, posting more realistic profile pics is a better selling technique. I.e., flexing at the gym is no passee, so sticking to honest photos that are still appealing, is the way to go.

Staying Clear of Scams and Potential Problems Down the Line

Perhaps your relationship is going swimmingly, but something doesn’t quite seem right, or maybe your discussions have been solely online, and you are getting the feeling that everything is not as it seems. 

Running a dating background check site isn’t unusual, and it’s a service that is offered by many providers and would be a sensible suggestion to take. This may help you to ascertain if you are being catfished or likely to face problems in the long run. 

This is a byproduct of an upsurge in online dating, where it’s far easier to fall prey to unscrupulous individuals. 

Does the Scattergun Approach Work?

Well, we mentioned the kid in a candy store metaphor earlier, and in this scenario, you may have a mental image of a child with far too much candy and being unsure of what to do with their massive haul?

Some use dating apps as something of a game. The idea presumably is to hook up with as many people as possible so that their ‘needs’ are met but also, perhaps, with the view to finding the ‘right person’ they can settle down with.

Clearly, such an approach may not work if you are looking for something long-term, as in theory, you may well have missed an opportunity as your mind wasn’t necessarily focused in the right direction from the outset. 

Be Yourself

Yes, this may sound like predictable claptrap, but the online dating world is now so well-worn that those who use it are more than capable of spotting insincerity, fake swagger, and outright lies. 

This means that being yourself, unless you are a horrible person obviously (in which case you should, by all means, cover that up), is actually a selling point. Being genuine and honest can now work in our favour as doing so would display to a possible partner that you are an open and authentic individual with no agenda.

Don’t Have a Type

Another way to open up the dating pool further is to not constrain yourself in terms of a ‘type’ that you believe you are more interested in. Let’s be honest, while we may all have a ‘type,’ it isn’t an aspect that would lead us to turn down an opportunity from an individual who might not strictly fit this categorization. 

In other words, why put obstacles in your own way? 

Good Luck Out There

Overall the introduction, and increased usage, of online dating services is a big positive when it comes to an overall assessment of their value to single people. It’s also a path you should tread with a certain amount of caution and reflection. 

Make the most of what these services offer but also don’t let it dictate the path you choose to take. Be the master of your own destiny and merely use the latest advances in the tech world to help you best navigate your route to happiness.