My Latest in Online Dating Advice OR: Social Media Is Not Tinder, People!

Many singles who experiment with online dating, via desktop or mobile app, start off on free online dating sites or on Social Media. Free sites give you a chance to experience all that online dating has to offer and allows you to see how you stack up in the digital dating world, which, yes, is different from the in-person meeting route. 

    Social Media, is not Tinder people! Please know that we do not want to have your nudes DM'd to us. For whatever reason, Social Media has become a prolific pick up place, so please be prepared! I was not prepared for all of the DM's with marriage proposals, "love at first sight" messages, promises of trips, luxury, etc. Be cautious though because there are those who will ask relentlessly for money, photos, personal information & more! Please remember that you are in control. Be safe, do not give your personal information out, do not give/loan any money, credit card info, etc. It can be tempting to help out, or to "do the right thing", but do not send anyone money, do not give out any personal information. You can chat online through Direct messaging. The right person will understand and be supportive, trust me!

Digital dating has come a long way in a short period of time and the presence of legitimate, useful free dating sites and apps just further proves this point. Look back just a decade ago and your options for online dating were much, much slimmer. Online dating sites that were free back then were often either highly sketchy, putting your identity and privacy at risk, or simply did not have the membership numbers to give you a worthwhile online dating experience. Today, apps and sites from plenty of fish to Zoosk have changed the game thanks to massive databases of loyal, active users providing plenty of fish in the sea to choose from.

It's okay to be honest and to tell them upfront, when you feel comfortable, to let them know that you are disabled. People will appreciate your honesty and, generally, they will not let that stop them from getting to know you! Be prepared for more questions though, they are just curious and trying figure out how/where the date will best work out for both of you! 

Of course, paid dating sites and apps usually do provide something a little extra to justify the price tag. Many have more advanced matching algorithms along with other bells and whistles, and because you must pay to use them, they tend to attract those who take online dating — or casual hookups, as the case may be — a little more seriously. Additionally, many free sites have matching systems that work perfectly well, if not better in some cases, than their paid competitors, and each one tends to have its own unique aspect to it that makes it stand out from the crowd.

All in all, when you look at what's available these days in terms of free online dating, the message is pretty clear: Finding others through digital means doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg, or anything for that matter, meaning you can save your hard-earned cash for the dates you actually go on. If online dating is something you're considering, or reconsidering once again, you really have nothing to lose by trying out a free dating site.

The only real challenge is the amount of options. There's an estimated 5,000 online dating platforms available, so picking the right one for your needs can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. On the flip side, this means there's definitely one out there that meets your particular needs, be it to find a one-night stand in the next hour or potential partner for life. Remember to be safe,. Meet in a public place.