The world of modern online dating etiquette can be a tough one to navigate. From catfishing to breadcrumbing and everything in between—how can you possibly know what to say and how to act?
Putting yourself out there can be daunting, especially if this is your first time stepping into the online dating pool.
But understanding etiquette is necessary to avoid wasting your time (and others’).
That’s why we’ve put together a list of dos and don’ts to help you understand the minefield a little better. Plus, you might figure out where you’ve been going wrong in the past!
With our advice and tips on proper online dating etiquette, you’ll be on your way to finding your perfect match in no time.
In This Guide:
- Tips for Online Dating: The Dos & Don'ts
- Our Top 5 Online Dating ‘Dos’
- Our Top 5 Online Dating ‘Don'ts’
- Online Dating Etiquette: When to Meet Your Match
- Final Words: Improving Your Online Dating Etiquette for Success
- FAQs
Tips for Online Dating: The Dos & Don’ts
A whole book could be written on the dos and don’ts of online dating, but, actually, when you break it down, they all point to one thing—treat people how you expect to be treated.
Now, that can sometimes be easier said than done, and we’re sure we’ve all had hiccups in the past. Nobody’s perfect, right?
That’s why we’ve compiled some of those broken-down points into a simple list so you can see where you might be going wrong and how to start fresh.
Our Top 5 Online Dating ‘Dos’
Be Honest & Authentic
Authentic = attractive.
Even if being a good person doesn’t encourage you to be open and honest about yourself, maybe this aspect will.
There’s even a study suggesting being honest makes your face more attractive. Now that’s something to think about.
Confidence in who you are (who you really are) as a person can be a huge turn-on for potential matches.
Not only that, but you’ll find real, genuine matches that share the same interests and life experiences as you.
Pretending to be someone you’re not only leads to mismatches and wasted time on both ends. Just be yourself, and the rest will fall into place!
Ask Open Questions
Asking open questions is a game-changer in online dating. They take the conversation to different levels, allowing each party to learn more about their potential match in a memorable way.
You’ll avoid awkward silences, show you’re generally interested, and if they don’t respond with the same enthusiasm, you know you dodged a bullet.
Keep it Clean (At Least Early On!)
Ladies, gents, everyone; before you’ve built up any kind of connection, going straight in with sexual innuendos or explicit comments can come across as disrespectful and kind of creepy.
By keeping it clean in the early stages, you can build a proper connection, prove you understand boundaries, and show that you’re not just in it for the one-night stand.
This will help you spot the early red flags, too. If someone is only engaging when the convo heats up, you’ll know they’re not interested in you as a person.
That being said, there’s nothing wrong with a flirt every now and then. If you catch a vibe and the feelings are mutual, roll with it—just don’t make it weird.
Keep Things Light & Fun
Keeping things light and airy is one of the crucial elements of online dating etiquette that’s so often overlooked.
Romance should be fun, joyful, and freeing. It doesn’t always have to be so deep.
The benefits of not taking yourself too seriously while online dating are second to none:
- It naturally breaks the ice
- You’ll seem more approachable
- Encouraging pressure too early is never a good idea
- It makes you stand out in a sea of ‘Hey:)’
Of course, those deeper and more meaningful conversations are an absolute must in any healthy relationship, so don’t worry; you’ll get to those later.
Just try not to lead with them. You might scare off a potential match.
Connect With Like-Minded People on Wisp
Here at Wisp, we’re all about helping you connect with people that just get you. That really is the recipe to a lasting relationship, after all.
Our dating app introduces a new way of dating by skipping out on the mind-numbing and endless messaging (yes, you’re welcome), and helping you meet your matches in person sooner.
Kiss goodbye to the awkward small talk and download Wisp today to discover your real connections.
Be Cautious
Dating etiquette doesn’t just refer to how you act towards your matches, but also how you behave towards yourself. If that makes sense.
Being cautious while online dating is essential.
We’re sure you know everything isn’t always butterflies and rainbows, but sometimes we can get swept away in the words of affirmation and future thoughts.
Being cautious in online dating isn’t about being paranoid—it’s about being smart, safe, and self-respecting. With connections happening through screens, staying cautious helps protect your emotional well-being and personal safety.
Our Top 5 Online Dating ‘Don’ts’
Definitely No Catfishing
Catfishing is never a good idea.
Even if you’re not scared that Nev and Max might catch you, it’s a form of manipulation that can create serious life-long problems for the other party involved.
It’s also a major way to break trust, and it is often reported on online dating sites. You won’t get a second chance, so it’s best to do the right thing first.
We understand that not everyone feels comfortable in their own skin, but you deserve to be liked for you—warts and all. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on making real connections and enjoying the dating experience.
So, what are some ways to avoid catfishing? We’re so glad you asked.
Always display actual pictures of you, not someone else, and never use someone else’s information. Always be honest about your name, age, and where you’re from. It couldn’t be easier.
Avoid Breadcrumbing
Breadcrumbing is another modern online dating behaviour that you may or may not know you’re doing.
It’s basically giving someone enough to keep them interested but not enough to offer any kind of genuine connection. It’s manipulation at its finest.
From wasting time to sending mixed signals, leading people on and more, breadcrumbing is a sure-fire way to waste your online dating time while disrespecting others.
If you’re not interested, simply be honest.
Don’t Overshare (Recipe for Disaster)
As much as you might want to share your deepest, darkest secrets with someone you’re excited about, proper online dating etiquette suggests this is a way to shift the vibe.
And not in a good way.
Pacing the conversation in online dating is paramount. You can’t go straight in with your life story, or you risk making the other person uncomfortable.
How jarring is it when someone constantly brings the vibe down with a deep story? Exactly.
Plus, creating a bit of mystery is never a bad thing. Leaving a bit to the imagination keeps things exciting in the early stages!
Don’t Read Too Much into Texts
Sometimes, even texting your friends requires some decoding, and it’s no different with online dating.
Just because you perceive something in a certain way over text doesn’t mean the other person meant it in that way.
From the use of emojis to the number of kisses, capital letters, or the way someone spells ‘OK’, you can end up reading way too much into a simple text.
Take it at face value and go from there. You’ll soon find out your matches vibe.
Avoid Too Much Social Stalking
In our current digital age, it’s extremely tempting to try and find as much as possible about someone the moment you match. Who doesn’t love a harmless look?
But keeping it to a minimum is crucial to keep things respectful and natural.
First of all, social media pretty much just shows the highlights of someone’s life. It’s likely you’ll create an unrealistic image of someone in your head before you actually know much about them.
Not to mention the risk of awkward slip-ups.
Mentioning their job promotion or their recent holiday to Spain before they’ve told you can really throw off the vibe. It reveals you’ve been digging, and that can come across as intense.
The bottom line is to let the conversation reveal the person, not their tagged images from 2016.
There’s always the option to look later on.
Online Dating Etiquette: When to Meet Your Match
Knowing when to meet your match is a big part of proper online dating etiquette. It’s all about balancing intent, safety, and comfort so both of you feel good about stepping away from the screen.
Below is a list of situations where it might be time to meet your match and when it might be best to wait or stop the conversation altogether:
| When it’s Time to Meet | When to Avoid Meeting |
| When there’s consistent, comfortable conversation | You feel uncomfortable or pressured |
| When you’ve established what you’re both looking for | They’re being inconsistent or avoidant |
| When there’s no pressure, and you feel safe and comfortable | They ask to meet somewhere private too early on |
| When you’ve set clear expectations for the meet-up | You simply don’t feel ready |
However, all this stress and hesitance is removed when you create a profile on Wisp.
There’s no endless swiping or messaging; if you’ve found a match, head straight to the date!
After swiping through potential matches and finding someone you’re interested in, ask them out through the app. If they accept, we’ll help you arrange the perfect date!
Take the guesswork out of dating and find out if there’s a spark in real life with Wisp.
Final Words: Improving Your Online Dating Etiquette for Success
Just like in real life, the way you present yourself online and the way you judge others have a huge impact on how you form relationships.
If you wouldn’t tolerate it in real life, you shouldn’t have to in the online dating space.
And if you wouldn’t act that way in real life, don’t force a false narrative while you’re online dating.
Having a firm idea of the proper etiquette of online dating can help you massively on your journey to finding the one!
You can find more online dating advice and dating advice in general on our blog!
Alternatively, if you think you’ve got your dating etiquette down to a T and know how to spot potential red flags, put it into practice and create a free profile on the Wisp app today!
Connect with real, like-minded people looking for a serious relationship without all the games. Put your newfound skills to the test and start looking for a meaningful connection with our app.
Happy online dating!
FAQs
What is a Red Flag in Online Dating?
There are hundreds of red flags in the online dating scene, so to avoid them like the plague (or stop doing them yourself!), here are a few to note:
- Profile inconsistencies — does someone not look their age? Or maybe they have very limited personal info. This comes across as a little dodgy.
- Avoiding personal questions — If someone is secretive about basic info, we suggest proceeding with caution.
- Is it too good to be true? — Does their profile bio say they’re a model, astronaut, surgeon, or even a film star? It could be too good to be true, and they might be catfishing you.
- Pushing to move quickly to other platforms — Not always, but sometimes this is how scammers operate.
- Jealousy or possessiveness early on — Controlling behaviour is never a good sign, no matter how flattering it comes across.
What is Dry Texting?
Dry texting is the same as being blunt. It usually refers to one-word replies, avoidance of questions, and a general lack of interest in the conversation.
This is most commonly perceived as rude or not wanting to carry on with the convo. Other times, this can mean busy schedules, lack of screen time, or none of those things at all.
You can read into dry texting until the cows come home, but as a general rule, if someone is dry texting you in the beginning stages of online dating, it’s likely they aren’t the one.
What Not to Do When Online Dating?
Online dating etiquette comes with a list of things to avoid while you’re chatting with someone new. Some of these include not reading deeply into texts, catfishing, oversharing, and many more.
For more details, scroll to the post above!