Welcome to the realm of digital romance aka online dating, where swipes turn into likes, emojis convey emotions, and screens serve as gateways to potential love connections. But amidst this digital dance of attraction, one question lingers in the hearts of hopeful romantics: How long should one wait before taking the plunge and meeting their online date in the flesh? Should it be a fleeting fling of a few days, a tantalizing timeout of a week, or a prolonged period of time that would make even a sloth blush with impatience?

Join me as we embark on an exploration of this modern conundrum, where pixels meet reality, and love hangs in the balance. So, buckle up, log in, and let the countdown to offline enchantment begin!

Love/Hate Fling with Online Dating

Online dating, you either hate it or you love it. I personally have a love/ hate relationship with it. I enjoy the chatting aspect because, as part of my day job, I talk to people for 9 hours a day. This means that after hours, I’m physically incapable of talking to anyone. I am, however, capable of being hilarious, profound, and sometimes even cheeky via text and any time of the day. The aspect I don’t enjoy is the endless swiping and then when you match with someone, the conversation consists of endless monosyllables.

But what happens when you match with someone who is amazing at maintaining a conversation? Do you make arrangements to meet immediately, or do you wait a few weeks to see how deep the chemistry actually goes?

Put a Voice to the Face First

We can’t talk about online dating without talking about catfishing. It would appear that these days, scintillating conversation isn’t enough. Despite there being enough pictures on the dating app, people want to put an actual voice to the name. Video calls and voice notes before an actual face-to-face meet-up has become a thing.

I was “blanked” by two guys because I refused to send a voice note. One of them told me that he didn’t ask women out on dates until he’s heard their voice (insert Pikachu confused face here). It would appear (in my experience at least) that men are hesitant to make that move to suggest even a simple get-together for fear of having their time wasted. My suggestion? What I always suggest, just communicate.

It’s Not a Bad Idea to Share Digits

Speaking of communication, we all have these advanced communication devices in the palm of our hands and yet sometimes we fail to communicate effectively. Making that decision to suggest moving online communication to face-to-face could depend on the other person’s texting style. Does the conversation “flow” enough to give you an indication that the other person would be interested in meeting? Is the online dating conversation progressing such that a meeting would be the next logical step? The experts suggest waiting at least 2 to 3 weeks to gauge the vibe and get some kind of idea of the type of person you’re communicating with.

Social Media Anyone?

Social media can also play a part in getting to know someone through online dating. If you’re not comfortable with giving your number, communicating via a social media app could be an option. That way both of you can see what interests you have in common and use it to your advantage. Personally, if I see someone posting about a place that I frequent, chances are that I’ll comment on it and suggest that we go there together sometime.

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Don’t Wait Too Long

Don’t wait too long to make that move. We are living in a world where both men and women allow themselves to have options. While you’re still in the process of keeping the conversation going, the other person could have already been asked out by someone more proactive. Nobody wants to be relegated to pen pal status.

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The converse of that would be asking them out too soon. I’ve been in situations where the other person suggested we meet within an hour of matching. For obvious reasons, this idea isn’t always feasible. Finding that balance is important.

At the end of the day, meeting people does wonders for your mental health. So, get out there and make some connections, after matching through online dating. What are your thoughts?