Page 27 - Payout Magazine Online Volume 8.1

strangers on the Internet with photoshopped rather than later, do play it safe and take the
pictures and fancy interests, it is best to stick to necessary precautions to protect yourself as
reality and speak honestly about yourself. well as any sensitive information. Make sure the
person you are talking to is who they say they
2. look for Matches with Similar are by talking on the phone or having a video
interests chat. When you do meet, make sure to do so

in a public place while taking care not to reveal
While the age-old saying “opposites attract”
anything too personal about yourself too soon.
may have some truth to it, you will find that
looking for someone that has similar interests
to you will make finding love a bit easier. 4. Keep Your relationship real
Oftentimes, users of dating apps are already
Dating through the Internet gives people
skeptical of other users. Going for someone that
certain liberties. It allows them to let their
you have nothing in common with will make the
conversation awkward at best, while ensuring guard down faster than they might in real life.
that you two will hardly be compatible. By being Additionally, it allows for a personal one-on-one
honest about your hobbies and interests, you interaction that wouldn’t happen as quickly as it
are more likely to spark a real connection with might in the real world. This can often make a
someone who is interested in the same things relationship move too quickly or allow an overly
as well. fantasized kind of relationship to develop. A lot
of times when we are looking for love, it can be
However, looking for similarities doesn’t mean
easy to settle on the first person that responds
one needs to search for an exact match. Keep
to us. Using an app makes it harder to pick and
yourself open to someone that may not have as
choose the best person that is right for us. Be
many things in common with you. While a strong
sure to properly analyze your matches as you
relationship can certainly be built on common
search for the right person to date.
ground, it is a good idea for both parties to have
specific things that are unique to their lives--
When you find someone that you want to date,
this will make for a dynamic relationship.
it is important to stay grounded. Avoid rushing
into anything or going overboard with your
3. Don’t Play Hard to get
emotions. The last thing you want is to be in
Playing hard to get is one of the most love for a week and find yourself back on the
counterproductive ways to approach dating as same dating app the next weekend. Allowing
it will ensure that you get fewer matches, no real feelings to develop offline will help ensure
matter the app you are using. Just as people that your relationship makes it out of the
are more skeptical on dating apps, they are also honeymoon phase.
impatient. Someone that is being too difficult
to admit their interest, or lack of interest, is Whether you are still holding onto the
someone that is too difficult to try to date. traditional idea of meeting that special someone
People that are on dating apps are typically in a coffee shop or you are currently thumbing
too busy to find love the traditional way. This between PlentyOfFish and Coffee Meets Bagel,
means they have no time to play games with
the lessons we learn with dating apps can be
ambivalent daters. Instead of playing hard to
applied to every aspect of our lives, as well as our
get, it is a good idea to admit your interest
relationships. Being authentic about ourselves,
upfront. This means to go ahead and say “I like
looking for compatibility with common interests,
you”, rather than beating around the bush. This
being open about our feelings, and keeping
will make the whole process of talking, meeting
ourselves grounded in our relationships are all
in real life, and determining a connection much
important lessons that we can learn from using
simpler.
dating apps. Before setting up your next Tinder
However, be sure not to take anything too fast. date, be sure to take a moment to reflect on how
While you should admit to your feelings sooner you can apply these lessons to your real life.

PAYOUTMAGAZINE 27