Online vs. Offline Dating: What Type Fits You Better?

Everything evolves with time and the dating scene is no exception. Both technology and social norms have changed over the years to make flirting more comfortable and easier. Every year more and more people join dating sites for various reasons. But is it better than traditional offline dating? And what are the major differences, benefits, and downsides of both? Let’s figure it out.

The Change in the Dating Scene

Until relatively recent times, the search for dates was pretty straightforward. You could find them at bars, nightclubs, parties, or among friends or co-workers. However, meeting new people to date was not easy.

The big change came with online dating, which is presented as a comfortable, simple, and practical alternative to the traditional method. It significantly simplifies the process. You spend much less time searching for people, advanced search filters offer personalized results. Besides, there are multiple convenient ways of contacting someone you like.

It’s no wonder that the multitude of services with 99brides.com from all over the globe are so popular.

Online Dating vs Offline Dating: Major Differences

There are increasingly more people looking for love on the Internet. In principle, nothing speaks against it. Both offline and online dating have potential. But what are the biggest differences between the two forms?

The Amount of Time Spent

The search for a partner on the Internet is less time-consuming than the conventional way. All you have to do is to get registered on one of the online services and start contacting whoever you like.

Traditional dating is more complicated and it gets even more so as we grow older. If you are a working adult, you probably don’t have much free time.

Distance

When meeting people in your area, you can almost always be sure they live here. That’s not the case with online dating. Unless you are using a dating service to search specifically for people living in the vicinity, your potential dates might be from anywhere in the world.

This might potentially lead to long-distance relationships that are getting increasingly common nowadays.

Common Interests

When it comes to finding partners with common interests, both offline and online dating are valid options. You can find someone with a common hobby offline (at some pottery classes, for example). Using an online dating service, you can toggle your preferences to find people with a specific set of likes and dislikes that are similar to yours.

So while it’s quite possible to find a partner with common interests in a traditional way, online dating agencies offer a wider range of partners with the same interests.

Social Awkwardness

This is one of the reasons why it often doesn’t come to relationships during offline dating, even if they have great potential. Shy people have a hard time overcoming it and approaching a potential partner. Sometimes to the extent when offline dating isn’t an option.

Online dating, however, solves this issue at least partially. Due to the increased anonymity and indirect contact, many people find it easier to get in touch with a potential partner.

Pros and Cons of Online and Offline Dating

That being said, you might still be a little confused as to what type of dating suits you best. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of both types to consider.

Online Dating

Online dating has become a trend. More and more people opt for online dating instead of the good old conventional way. Yes, with modern technology, you get different options such as chat rooms and all kinds of social media. But dating apps and websites are still the most popular when it comes to picking a dating partner.

There’s no lack of these apps and services: everyone can choose something that suits them best. But are they really worth it? Let’s look at all the benefits you get with this type of dating:

• Statistics don’t lie: every third relationship starts online. 40% of Americans use online dating services. This means that this type of dating is not only popular but also effective.
• Online dating websites use algorithms based on their users’ characteristics, personalities, and interests to create matches that are really compatible.
• Online communication is easier and less intimidating than in person.
• Online dating services expand your access to people and offer the possibility of global matchmaking.

However, online dating doesn’t come with its own downsides. Here they are:

• Possibility of running into fake profiles, deception, and scams.
• It can be difficult to achieve the level of chemistry specific to personal interaction.
• If you don’t have a clear idea of what you are looking for, the multitude of options available to contact can be overwhelming.

Choosing online dating is a great way to get more opportunities. It’s just a convenient way to meet new people to go out with. It removes limitations and helps you open up to a world of possibilities. You just have to be clear about what you are looking for and, as with everything, be cautious.

Offline Dating

There are so many ways you can find a date offline. You can find your soulmate among your friends, co-workers, or family acquaintances. You can find them at a party or during some kind of group activity. Or you can simply bump into your future partner at a local grocery store. This kind of dating certainly has its perks:

• The possibility of physical interaction with your dating partner.
• It’s easier to tell if there’s chemistry by reading the body language.
• You might easily find the things you have in common.

But there are a number of downsides as well:

• If you are a shy person, making the first move might be incredibly difficult.
• When searching for a potential date, you are limited to your area and social circle.
• Dating might be challenging due to your busy daily schedule.
• It’s not always easy to tell who’s available so the number of rejections might be high. This can seriously hurt your self-esteem.

And yet, this type of dating is a great idea if you are looking for more personal interaction or a deeper and faster connection with another person.

The Transition from a Virtual Relationship to a Real One

At some point, you’ll have to meet the person you are dating online in real life. It just won’t make much sense without it. Sooner or later, physical contact will become essential to make your relationship grow.

During your first face-to-face contact, you’ll be able to discover things you had not perceived through the computer screen. At this stage, some disappointments, minor or major, are inevitable. Don’t worry though. There are ways to minimize your disappointments from the first encounter:

• Be completely honest and sincere with your online dating partner from the very start. If you are both open with each other from day one, there should be no disappointments.
• Try not to idealize the other person. If there are aspects of their personality you don’t like, don’t dismiss them as unimportant. More importantly, don’t think that it’s something you’ll be able to change in the future. The issue can actually be more serious than you can see through the computer screen.
• Make it a general rule to be cautious and careful about any relationships you start online. The vibes you get from a person you talk to online can be very deceptive. So it’s always better to err on the side of caution to save yourself from major disappointments.

Summing Up

The dating scene has been evolving for many years. Traditional options never go out of style. They allow you to create closer connections from the first moment and make it easier to determine if there is chemistry or not. However, online alternatives are currently the most popular. These eliminate barriers and open the doors to thousands of possibilities. The decision of what type suits you best is completely up to you.