Differences between online dating and dating in person

Not sure whether to pursue your romance online or date? The truth about the differences between online and face-to-face dating. Dating online is becoming more and more popular. 

We have started to communicate less in real life due to lack of time and sometimes simply because of our own laziness. 

Other times we don’t feel like making the effort to take care of ourselves in order to look more attractive and we prefer online relationships because of that.  On the other hand, it is not always easy to organise a trip to see someone you like.

And I’m not going to talk about the damn pandemic, because, although it has brought some good things, most of us want it to be over and done with so we can get back to normality. 

But, aside from the difficulties of dating during a pandemic, doesn’t meeting for coffee on a first date seem a bit old-fashioned these days? 

The Internet, however, is a different matter altogether. 

Nowadays it has not only entangled the young people in its network, but also the older generations. 

If you are one of those men struggling to find the woman of your life, you should further explore the world of dating sites to turn your dates into something new.

So how do these two ways of dating, online and offline differ? What are the pros and cons of each?

We’ll talk about this today.

Pros and cons of using online adult dating sites

What makes friends with benefits sites like Shag so popular?

For many reasons: voluntary anonymity and the thousands of possibilities it offers. But also, because it is designed to maximise the user’s options to find what they are looking for. 

You can say as much as you like about yourself in your profile, although it is not strictly necessary. However, the more information you give, the more likely you are to find someone who is like you. 

Yet, I must warn you: don’t overdo it. Too much information can look a bit weird. 

No one reading your profile for the first time wants to know that your grandmother died this Saturday, and that you were very close. 

Anyway, my point is that you can chat for your own pleasure or just send text messages, without revealing any details about yourself.

The benefits of flirting on free online dating sites

1. You don’t have to reply to the other person immediately. There is always time to thoroughly think over what you are going to say before replying.
2. Sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone who doesn’t already know you. For example, if you are introvert but you would like to share you feelings or thoughts with someone, communication via the internet might just be what you need. After all, the people who surround you in your daily life and who are constantly close to you, are not always the best to talk to.
3. A wide social circle always opens your mind. Sometimes it can offer a lot of useful information and a variety of experiences. Whatever happens, you will benefit from this type of communication.
4. You don’t need to worry about your physical appearance. At least not until you agree to meet your new friend in person.
5. You can disconnect from the internet at any moment you like. Even if someone takes offence in it, it doesn’t matter, you’ll likely never see them again. And the person will therefore not get the chance to hold it against you. 

The main disadvantage of dating online is that you cannot be sure whether the person you are talking to is really who they say they are, at least at the beginning. After all, it is absolutely impossible to guess who exactly is on the other side of the screen.

Pros and cons of dating in person

Communication via the Internet provides the opportunity to quickly become acquainted with anyone. And it is the simplicity of this process that relaxes people. 

But what about in real life? Well, it certainly has advantages as well. 

And here are the two most important ones right in front of you:

1. In real life, you can immediately see what the person in front of you is like.

You can evaluate their appearance immediately and see whether you like them or not simply by looking at them. On the internet, you can only see a photo, which can give you some idea about the person but you will never know whether they are really who they say they are.

2. In person, you have the possibility to use the most underrated sense of all: touch.

The internet does not give you this opportunity. We don’t mean that you have to touch your date on your first date, just that you both have that possibility at hand – I couldn’t say it any better. 

There are still many advantages of dating in person, but they are so obvious and well known that it probably doesn’t make sense to list them all. Let’s take a closer look at its main drawbacks:

1. With in-person dates you almost always need to look for a nice and cosy place to meet up, especially when it’s cold outside. Whilst, when you are having an online date, you are always on the other side of the screen in a comfortable seat and you will not experience any tension or anxiety.
2. When a date doesn’t work out in person, it’s much more complicated to take off. Contrastingly, when you are on the internet, you only have to say bye and close your laptop or turn off whichever device you are using.
3. In real life, anonymity is never guaranteed. Imagine that – for whatever reason – you don’t want anyone to see you with your date. There is always going to be that possibility.  I once saw a couple from my father’s hometown (less than 1000 inhabitants) on a remote island in Southeast Asia. So, imagine who might see you in your town with “the other one” no matter how far away from your neighbourhood you are.

Finally, even after considering the pros and cons of the two different ways of dating in detail, you might ask yourself: but which of the two methods is better for getting to know each other? The choice is up to you! Judge for yourself what suits you best.

Shag: the most popular free dating site in the UK

Meanwhile, whilst you are trying to decide whether to go for online dating or a date in person, you can sign up to Shag for free, the most liberal community of people in the UK.

What do you have to lose?