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First dates can be both exciting and intimidating, especially when you met the person online. But now imagine it’s with someone you can’t even recognize from the photos.
Maybe your match had drastically distorted the photos or disguised their appearance with some filters and creative editing. How it happened doesn’t really matter, because now you’re sitting across from someone who is unrecognizable to you. And as a result, you don’t know what to do: what now?
It’s a disappointing scenario that singles on dating apps are all too familiar with, according to research from dating app happn . According to the survey of more than 2,000 singles, 62% have dated someone who turned out to be different than they were on the app. Sometimes there were small differences, sometimes it was a completely different person.
More than a third of respondents (36%) say their date was slightly different than they thought. They noticed small differences between the person they knew from the photos and the person who actually showed up for the date. But more than a quarter of singles (27%) have experienced a downright disappointment: their date looked nothing like the person shown in their profile.
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7 tips to be more yourself on dating apps
Despite the fact that the majority of singles (84%) think that they fully show their true selves on dating apps, it still happens regularly that a date looks nothing like the profile picture. How can we prevent this, to say goodbye to this classic anticlimax for good? Dating expert Ipek Kucuk from happn has seven tips for you to be even more yourself online dating apps. But before we share these tips with you, here is something else:
1. Take a critical look at your own profile
When you look at your own text and photos, do you recognize yourself in them? Or do you notice that it is often the same filter? Research by happn shows that 83% of singles prefer the ‘realest’ version. “Try to use as few filters or Photoshop as possible,” says dating expert Kucuk. “You are beautiful just the way you are!”
2. Be honest in your communication
Honest communication starts with the way you present yourself. It is not bad and perhaps even wise to highlight your plus points, but do not lay it on too thick. This advice is then mainly intended for the 14% of singles who indicate that they only show the best version of themselves.
“Your profile is one thing, but the things you send to someone in the chat can also raise certain expectations with that person,” Kucuk explains. “Do you really like Formula 1 and cooking, or do you just say that to score some extra points with your crush? Honesty lasts the longest!”
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3. Share less and reach more
Kucuk: “Being honest is good, but there is also such a thing as oversharing. You can keep it a bit exciting and mysterious; not every little detail has to be told in detail right away.”
Singles love it when someone is completely themselves, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to share everything about yourself. For example, 57% of singles say they like it when someone is themselves, but at the same time they also like it when you leave something to the imagination.
4. Ask for a second opinion
Ask a friend or family member what they think of your dating profile . They often have a unique insight into your character and personality and therefore know better than anyone whether you present yourself as yourself.
“ Your friends know best … They know better than anyone whether you are showing your true self online, or perhaps a slightly different version of yourself,” says the dating expert from happn. “Take their advice to heart!”
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5. Get certified
Because we all know that it is very easy to impersonate someone else, dating apps have developed various functions that can verify an identity. And you don’t even need to upload a scan of your passport, because with a short video you can already verify yourself. Through the verification, others know that you really are who you say you are.
6. Use the handy features
Dating apps are no longer the apps of the ‘old days’ where you could only share typed text with each other. Modern apps make it possible to show videos of yourself and share voice recordings. And if you want to show yourself as you are, a video call is even better.
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7. Finally, make an appointment
You can only really show who you are by meeting up. No matter how many texts you exchange or how many video dates you have, only in real life will you know if the chemistry is there … or not.
“Meeting in real life is the only way to find out if you really have that romantic connection with someone,” says Kucuk. “That’s why our last tip is: take your chance and go on that date!”
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