With the well documented rise of online dating, there is an inevitable sense of excitement with a side of caution when we first use dating apps like Tinder. As the description goes, people who want to ‘find friends, dates, relationships and everything in between’ view Tinder as a real opportunity to find what they’re looking for.
Personally, I have found Tinder to be an incredibly helpful app. Being a bisexual male myself, it makes it profoundly less difficult to establish which guys are approachable, without getting an uncomfortably awkward stare back and suddenly getting the urge to run a mile. After weeding out the creeps and the questionable people who are in relationships and are wanting to make ‘friends’, there are some genuinely nice people on there. I have been on dates with quite a few people thanks to the app, all of which I enjoyed, even though they eventually didn’t lead anywhere. Sometimes that isn’t the point; of course if you’re looking for something serious then it can be disappointing but on the other hand, I haven’t regretted any of the dates I’ve been on.
My Advice:
Enjoy yourself – having a positive experience dating boosts your confidence and your self-esteem, while at the same time enjoying yourself at a bar having a drink, chatting to someone who you clearly enjoy looking at!
Be honest about what you want – There is a lot that Tinder can teach you, and that’s not just about other people. It makes you question what you’re wanting out of the app and what kind of person you are interested in.
Do you have time in your life to get close to someone or are you in it for different reasons? It’s important to discuss with any potential date what it is you’re looking for. This ensures that you and your matches are on the same page and can enjoy the app, without the awkward coffee chats that start with, ‘it’s not you it’s me’.
Don’t be shy – Remember the large majority of other people on Tinder are there to meet new people too, so don’t be worried about starting a conversation. If things don’t work out – that’s okay! With online dating, people are bound to have emotional ups and downs and for some reason or another, things might not work out how you wanted it to, or external factors can get in the way. As long as you’re having fun and being safe, make the most of it.
[image: Geralt via pixabay]
