I remember when the Internet was starting to become very popular. Many people feared that it would be the end of social interaction. They envisioned everyone huddled in their rooms, writing anonymously to strangers and renouncing any form of human contact. Well, as we have seen, this is not the case. In fact, thanks to the advent of social media, people have been more active than ever meeting new people, reconnecting with old friends, and learning about different cultures from around the world. One thing that social networking sites have done is give people a new and perhaps safer method of online dating.
Social media, unlike traditional methods of meeting someone, allows you a pretty deep method of “seeing someone” before you actually meet them. Most social media profiles contain information about a person’s interests, work life, family life, and much more. You can even see who a person is connected to and this is often how people meet.
Let’s say you just reconnected with an old friend from high school. You may not have spoken to them in years, but thanks to social networking sites, here you are, messaging your old friend! Then let’s imagine that he starts scrolling through pictures of the people you’re connected with online. You see someone who is cute and you would like to know a little more about him. Your friend can give you the scoop and maybe even do an online presentation. This process can be much simpler than trying to make an appointment in person, and MUCH less stressful. Spending a few minutes chatting with someone online is a lot less intimidating than going face to face on a blind date, don’t you think?
Also, meeting someone through a social network can be a lot like meeting someone through a personal ad, only with a few more “quality checkpoints” in place. Online dating personals have been around pretty much since the internet first turned on years ago. The problem is, on your dating profile, it seems like people tend to go overboard a bit. I know you’re surprised, but it’s true. They assume that the only people who will see their ad are others who are also “looking for love”, and they want to appear as desirable as possible. The same can be said for social media, of course, but while people can try to do their best, having all your friends see your profile tends to discourage lying.
As for communicating with the people you meet on social media, the methods are many. You can message them directly through the platform, chat with them in real time, upload video or audio clips, or maybe even talk to them live using an interface like Skype, for example.
It’s important to note that many people who are members of social media are not there solely for the purpose of dating. But, if you’re looking for true love, spending some time on your favorite social network can help you get there…