5 Don'ts of Dating Apps

Dating apps. It's a thing.

It's the year 2020 and with quarantine life starting to look more and more like reoccurrence headed our way, most of us have to go on dating apps in order to score a date to the ball. Those of us that are already coupled up are in a different form of hell.

Dating apps have their pros and cons just like anything else in life, but one would have to admit that unfortunately, we just gotta learn to get over it and dive on in. The only alternative is throwing in the towel, which is an option. But for those of us that have higher aspirations, such as love or raising a family keep reading.

Here are 5 pitfalls to avoid when navigating the world of cyber dating.

1. Photos. Photos drive 90% of all activity on dating apps. If your photos don't adequately illustrate who you are, then you are simply wasting your time. Delete any and all photos taken in a bathroom. Also, don't put up pics of yourself holding up a fish. This is universally off-putting to anyone who does not fish. Seriously, most people will automatically swipe left or ignore you just for not understanding this unwritten rule. Say NO to fish pics.

Also, ladies one pic with a friend or group of friends, and at least one full body pic. Not having pics with other people tends to indicate a lack of friends or social circle. Hello red flag! No body pic tends to reflect poor self-esteem. You gotta show off what you got regardless of what it is you got! Confidence is key. Fake it till you make it baby!

2. Not adding info to your bio. This is another common mistake seen across dating profiles. Take the five to ten minutes to cultivate some sort of statement about who you are or maybe even your outlook on life. Otherwise, you risk looking like a douche, if you're a guy, or fake if you're a girl. This is your opportunity to present yourself exactly as you wish to be seen. But be sure to keep it within the realm of reality.

3. Writing about the things you hate in your bio. The temptation is understandable. Dating is hard. And common themes that repeatedly come up really start to grind your gears. But still, try your best to refrain from looking like you're exhausted or worse, jaded. No one likes a negative Nancy and this behavior will repel anyone worth your while. Stick to positive imagery and words on your page. You'll be happy you did.

4. Too many filters. It's mostly the women at fault here. I too have been told I use too many filters on my photos. And although that critique may sting, because, well, the filters make us all look so damn cute. But it's important to keep in mind that filters distort the way we really look. Do you really want to be accused of being a catfish? Do yourself a favor, ditch the filter and let the real you shine through!

5. Don't take rejection too personally. It really is so not a personal thing. There are about a million reasons to swipe left or right on someone, and that decision only makes sense to the person doing the swiping. The cold hard truth is that it is a number's game. The more people you weed through, the likelier that you are to find someone interesting. Trust that once you find your person, you'll see why you had to go through all the "others".

There you have it! Happy Dating!