Many people find online dating far more convenient and comfortable than traditional one. Despite this, it is often accompanied by many challenges, difficulties, and all the red flags you need to be wary of. So what are those online dating red flags to be careful of? Here are all the things to look out for.
10 Online Dating Red Flags to Be Careful of
1. They Refuse to Respect Your Boundaries
Does this person you are talking to keep crossing the line every opportunity they get? Do they get creepier and creepier the more you talk to them?
This usually occurs when somebody likes you more than you like them and so they become excessively eager to get to know you as soon as possible.
Needless to say, there is no justification for this regardless of how interested this person is in you. After all, if they already disregard your boundaries this early on, what can you expect from this person if you end up dating them in the future? So save yourself the headache by blocking the person the moment you spot this red flag.
2. They Can’t Stop Sexting You
There are two reasons this can be considered a red flag. First, they are likely looking for a hook-up rather than a serious relationship. If you want the same thing, then great, but if not, you should avoid such a person.
Or second, you made it clear you didn’t want any sexting this early on, but they didn’t want to listen and kept pushing it, trying to make you change your mind and engage.
This is related to what we’ve already talked about above regarding personal boundaries, so it’s better to stay away from this person before they start acting even worse.
3. You Feel Like You Are Reading a Profile Description Written By Your Boss
Do you often stumble upon profiles that immediately rub you off the wrong way? You know, the profiles that include a giant list of requirements and demands of what this person is looking for in a partner or what they expect to get from a relationship.
Now, there is nothing wrong with articulating your requirements and expectations, but if someone has 50 of them included in their profile in the categories of ‘must’ and ‘must not’, you might as well swipe left and spare yourself the torture of interacting with such a demanding and bossy person.
4. Profile Description is Nowhere to be Found
On the other end, you may come across a profile that is as empty as a desert. No indication of what you can even expect from this person.
The chances are that they are trying to hide something from you. If they don’t even have pictures, maybe they are already in a relationship and would not want any of their acquaintances to accidentally find their profile there. Or maybe they are your ex trying to get you back by pretending to be someone else in hopes of making you fall in love with them again.
Alternatively, they may not be looking for a serious relationship because they didn’t even want to put effort into something as important as a dating profile.
5. Questionable “Date Ideas”
Be wary of someone who intends to meet you in some secluded, forsaken-by-the-god kind of place. The same goes for meeting up at their place. After all, how can you put that much trust in someone you just met?
You should never accept such “date ideas” unless you already trust the person and feel comfortable enough around them. Otherwise, you may end up dating a creep which is definitely something you should avoid at all costs.
Or the person may not be a creep but a cheater instead. After all, why else would they try to meet you at a place no living beings hang out? They are probably trying to keep you hidden from their spouse, fiance, girlfriend, or boyfriend.
6. Constant Nagging
Life can be difficult and frustrating at times. Therefore, it’s no wonder we feel the urge to nag about all those things that bother us about it. However, dumping all your frustrations on someone you are still getting to know is no way to go about it.
You can talk about all of that after you become close with a person, but doing it from the very beginning is a red flag you should be wary of.
So avoid this individual if all they do is nag about their work problems, family situation, or anything else you don’t want to hear about this early on.
7. Ghosting
So you’ve been texting this person for weeks now and everything seemed to be going well. But one day, they stopped texting you all of a sudden. Your initial reaction may have been to blame yourself for it, wondering if you said something wrong.
But it’s likely that the fault lies with them rather than you. They probably have never been as interested in you as you thought, or they are one of those immature people who like to play mind games.
In any case, you should forget about them and move on to someone else. After all, amongst the sea of so many profiles, you are sure to find the one that speaks to you, helping you meet the person who is a good match for you.
8. They Exude “I’m Perfect” Energy
If their profile description screams “too good to be true”, then you better not ignore that shrieking sound. Our instincts are rarely wrong when it comes to these things, so you should listen to yours.
If their profile description portrays them as an ultimate perfection (has three degrees, owns a Ferrari, and lives in a mansion) along with fancy pictures in an attempt to flaunt their looks, you may be dealing with an infamous case of catfishing. So don’t allow yourself to be deceived and swipe left.
9. They Say No to Pictures or Video Calls
Maybe you started having doubts this person isn’t who they claim to be, so you ask for a little confirmation in the form of a video call. If they refuse, your intuition may have been right all along.
But what if they are simply shy or are not into video calls? Then the least they can do is take a few selfies for you, even if they are not a big fan of taking photos. If they refuse this one too, then you can be sure you were absolutely correct to doubt them.
10. Already Calling You Baby
A person has no right to call you a baby or any other pet name when you are not even close yet. This is a sign of them patronizing you and/or not having serious intentions.
It’d be a different story if they gave you a nickname instead. After all, what’s not to love when someone gives you a cute or unique nickname that makes you feel special?
But if they are calling you a pet name instead of a nickname, it’s a red flag you should take notice of.
Final Thoughts
Now you know all the signs and hints that can give you clues about what kind of person you are talking to and the intentions they may have. So pay attention to these little cues and details to stay safe and avoid wasting time on someone who does not deserve it.
