Every good thing has a downside as they say. Well, it’s true. While you might have been given the promise of finding true love in just a few clicks on your mobile device, the reality of navigating a dating website isn’t so straightforward.
Although dating websites may not pose any immediate danger to you, there are still downsides associated with its use that you should know. Knowing these dangers will be crucial in helping you navigate the not-so-clear waters of online dating.
1. People lie
One key thing to keep in mind is that between you and the person you’re hooking up with via a dating website, there are at least two computer devices and the ability to do whatever. In other words, you can never really know how genuine the other person is.
People can always add a few inches to their height, shave a few years off their age, or even go as far as using a picture from ten years ago.
The best thing to do is to take everything you see online with a pinch of salt. Don’t get yourself worked up over somebody before getting the chance to meet them.
When meeting them, hope for the best, and prepare your mind for the worst.
2. Scammers, predators, and psychopaths abound
While dating sites usually do their best to filter out malicious users, there’s only so much they can do. Because dating sites attract a good number of vulnerable single people, those looking to take advantage of them often find their way there, too.
The key to dealing with this kind of threat is to never give out personal information. Information like your home address, social security number, and credit card details should never find their way into the hands of people you’ve just met online.
Scammers will often find different excuses not to meet up, so asking for a physical meet is a great litmus test for them. To avoid falling for predators and psychopaths, always have your meetings in public places. Make sure to transport yourself there. Having someone pick you up or order a taxi for you will invariably release important information about where you live or work.
Another important thing to do is to check all major social media platforms of the person’s profile. Most miscreants will set up phony accounts to get to people. If they don’t have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, they probably don’t exist.
3. Dating sites can make you objectify people
Most users on dating sites value physical appearances over impressive profiles. This often leads to a system where the ‘hottest’ people are often the most sought after.
A major side effect of this is that it leads to unhealthy comparisons which can, in turn, lead to lower self-esteem for some users.
Luckily, the ‘hottest’ people don’t get all the people. They don’t even always get the best people. You can rest assured that even with your regular beautiful profile picture and astutely written profile, you’ll get your slice of the pie – most likely with someone like-minded.
Boris is a staff writer at TheFrisky.