What you should watch out for when dating online

Dating sites and apps are very popular. Some people find this strange and like to point out that they didn't need a dating website or app to find a partner in the past either. But not everyone is in a situation where they can meet a potential partner in everyday life. If you don't go out much or rarely in busy places, if you are too shy or not very communicative, your chances of finding a date are already lower. Research by de Volkskrant and a PhD student at the University of Amsterdam shows that six out of ten members of dating websites and apps have no chance of finding a date in real life. No wonder online dating is so popular. Enough money spent on whores and escorts, now it's time to find a steady girlfriend.
Over 50s are successful

Of the approximately 2.7 million singles in Ireland, a third are likely to be active on paid or free dating sites and apps. Of these, three in ten use them as a supplement because they also find dates regularly in their everyday lives. Online dating is also becoming increasingly popular among the over 50s. It is also encouraging that this group is the most successful in online dating: almost two out of five middle-aged couples who have moved in together in recent years have met online, compared to only one out of twenty young people.

Little difference between traditional and online dating

There is not much difference between "regular" dating and online dating. Apart from the fact that people get to know each other in a different way, dating usually goes the same way: public places like bars and restaurants are the most popular places for a first meeting. In addition, one fifth of all dates are active, e.g. a walk or a visit to the cinema or museum. About one in ten first dates takes place in the home of one of the two people.

Dangers of online dating

The above gives the impression that online dating is a lot of fun, and it is. Even if you don't find a romantic partner, chances are you will make one or more enjoyable friends after subscribing to a dating website or app, either for free or for a fee. However, online dating is not without its risks.

1. the other person is not who you thought they were (Catfish).

First, of course, you ask for a date in good faith. While chatting, you have formed a certain image of the other person and decided to meet in real life. Unfortunately, it often happens that someone is not what he or she says he or she is. The other person may already be in a relationship, may have children, may not have the right job or may have a shady past. Or they might be the right person, but the photos used in the profile are from years ago. All factors that can ruin a date.

2. fake profiles

There are also many fake profiles. These can be very innocent and have been bought by a dating website or app to have a larger member base. You don't mind this, apart from the futile effort of sending a message.

Unfortunately, there are also fake profiles that are even more annoying. A (often very beautiful) man or woman sends you a message telling you how nice you are and that he/she would like to meet you. Unfortunately, your profile has just been removed from this website or app and you are tempted to create an account on another, often expensive website. Don't fall into the trap: often these sites are full of fake profiles and it is almost impossible to get rid of them.

3. scammers

The world of online dating is an attractive place for scammers. Members of dating websites and apps are looking for a partner and/or are lonely. This makes them easy targets for scammers. It happens again and again that so-called scammers (often operating in a country other than their own) try to establish a connection with a member of a dating website or app. And once that connection and apparent trust is established, there is always something the scammer needs money for. And once you've sent money, the game continues: the money requests keep coming.