Pro #1: Can Connect With People Around You
Now that you are in your older young adult years, you might be over the bar scene. Which means, it might be becoming more challenging for you to come into contact with potential men. Not to mention you may find yourself working in a female-dominated field or working with people who are already married. Joining an online dating site or app gives you the opportunity to cross paths with people that you wouldn’t ordinarily.
Maybe the love of your life is just around the block from you, but you commute entirely different ways? Likewise, if you live in a large metropolitan area, it could be intimidating to go out to a crowded bar or restaurant to meet men each weekend. And if you reside in a very rural area, now is your chance to scour the people that live somewhat near you. The first upside of online dating is that it gives you the opportunity to see who’s out there. It may give you some peace of mind to know that there are still single decent guys out there waiting for you.
To enhance your dating experience make sure you choose the right dating app by carefully considering your goals, the user base, safety, and user-friendliness. Start by defining what you’re looking for in a relationship, then choose apps that cater to those needs. Research the user base, security measures, and reviews to ensure the app’s reputation aligns with your standards. By simply Googling phrases like “is Ashley Madison worth it” or “Bumble review” you can get a good indication of how reliable the dating website or app is.
If you’re not looking for any serious relationships you can find a great list of hookup websites.
Con #1: It Can Be Tiring
Online dating can be downright exhausting! It can be stressful to pick out just the right profile picture, say just the right witty thing, or perfectly present yourself online. Not to mention, you then need to sift through the piles of men in your area to find a desirable choice. You may barely have enough time in your day to force yourself to go to the gym, let alone message and chat with men online. So, if you do decide to sign up for some form of online dating after this article, be sure to realize the work you will have to put in.
Pro #2: It Can Give You Confidence
You definitely won’t want to go out and pursue a relationship with every man that messages you, winks at you, smiles at you, or contacts you in some way online, but it will build your confidence. If you are someone who hasn’t been in a relationship in a while, or someone who is just getting out of a tough relationship, you might need to get some of your old confidence back.
Con #2: It Might Be Overhyped
Depending on what online dating service you choose, you might not have as many options as you first suspect. Luckily, if you are in your 30s, there is a good chance that you’ll have many men looking to start a serious relationship just like you are. But, it’s easy to get frustrated that the people you are going out with seem better online than in person. Or, that the guys messaging you are just not your type at all. Remember that all dating requires a certain amount of trial and error before you get it perfectly.
Pro #3: Go On Dates
Are you just tired of being in a dating desert? Then online dating is for you. If you put yourself out there and try to talk to men online, you will get asked to go on some dates. And, especially if you sign up for an online dating service, you’ll likely encounter men looking for a serious relationship.
Con #3: The Cost
Though there are many free apps out there for you to use, many online dating sites like Match.com or eHarmony cost money. Most online dating services tend to be around $15-30 a month. So, if it helps you find your future spouse, it could be worth it. But, make sure that you can support this new venture financially.
Pro #4: Everyone’s Doing It
Now I am not saying that you should do something just because society or your friends are telling you to, but, the reality is the vast majority of people have tried online dating. Even though it hasn’t worked for everyone, it has worked out for a lot of individuals. So with such a high percentage of success, isn’t it worth trying?
Con #4: Bad Guys
Hopefully most of the guys on these dating sites are there for the right reasons, but there are always going to be people who aren’t. There are always going to be gross guys out there who are just looking for a one night stand or a booty call. Make sure that you are on your guard when you first start talking to someone to avoid these issues.
In conclusion, there are plenty of good and bad things about online dating. The important thing is to assess if this is something that might benefit you in your 30s. Is this something that could bring you happiness, or just put one more thing on your plate? Singleness in your 30s can be tough, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle or resort to something you are uncomfortable with. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck in your future relationship endeavors!
For more information, feel free to check out an article on OurStart here.
Rachel Watson is the website manager and author behind OurStart.com. OurStart is a lifestyle blog for women in their 20s and 30s. Rachel is a recent graduate of Grove City College, where she majored in Communication Studies. In her spare time, she enjoys running, eating, and walking her extremely old miniature schnauzer.
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