The other day I was listening to a podcast about how young adults can meet other young adults to develop friendships and possible romantic relationships. One of the
expert guests said,”My best advice is to cover all fronts! Try the apps and try in person.”

This sounded like great advice! Let’s explore each option

Dating Apps – are they for you?

Dating apps is the short way to say, “online dating application.” These apps are a dating service that the user can access on their phone. The idea is to speed up the dating process by having the app sift through potential dating partners so the user can be matched with someone whom they find attractive and also has similar values.

Online dating is now considered mainstream, and as of 2017, it is the number one method by which new couples meet. It is predicted that by 2040, the percentage of couples that meet online will be 70%. I guess we can consider dating apps to be tried and true!

Dating Apps require the user to create a profile. A good profile will show off who you are as a person as well as help you match with people who are right for you. It’s basically your chance to make a good first impression so it requires some time and thought. Our Advance LA Coaches help our clients to create a positive dating profile. Their advice is to think of your profile as the movie trailer for your first date. So make sure your profile tells an honest story of who you are, lets people know your core values and interests, but keep it light, and avoid topics that are serious or negative. Also include clear and current photos that show how you naturally look.

An example of a dating app is Hiki:
https://www.hikiapp.com/

Hiki — meaning “able” in Hawaiian — is a friendship and dating mobile app for the autistic community. It is a space where neurodiversity is embraced and being atypical is celebrated. Every part of Hiki, from ideation to design to launch, has been built with autistic adults to make sure that it is representative of Neurodivergent needs and to empower the Autistic community to foster friendships, love and community.

It can be very exciting to receive an alert from an app that lets you know that someone
is interested in a date with you. Dating experts suggest you set up a “pre-date” via Face Time or Zoom. This is a great idea as you can “meet” your date from the comfort of your home where you feel relaxed and comfortable. If this first meeting goes well, then you both can plan your first in-person date. A good first date is often meeting for coffee as the expectation is that this will be a relatively short date. If all goes well at the coffee date, congrats! Then you can plan a dinner date or maybe an activity or outing for a first real date.

I think I’d rather meet someone in person!

Many young adults prefer to meet potential friends or romantic partners in person.
The feeling is that meeting someone in person provides a more authentic experience. For some people, it is easier to be themselves and show their true personality in person.
Also, many dating experts say that you can get a better sense of who someone really is when you meet them in person.

Dating experts suggest to start with the goal of making a new friend. If this new friendship does transform into a romantic relationship, that is great! But a good friendship is the foundation of a strong relationship. Starting out as friends gives you an opportunity to get to know someone and see if they are right for you.

Where to meet someone in person? Here are some suggestions:

● Reach out to neighbors – why not bake some cookies and bring them to the people who live near you? A potential new friend may live right next door!
● Connect with co-workers – we all spend a large portion of time with the people we work with so you might already know if you have interests in common with your co-workers. If you share a passion for sports, maybe suggest going to a local baseball game together?
● Attend a Meet-Up event – meet-up events are great ways to meet new people with similar interests. Check out the possibilities at meetup.com
● Get Involved at your place of worship – whether you are active in a church or haven’t been to one in ages, churches, mosques, and synagogues are great places to meet new people. There are often volunteer opportunities or potlucks to attend and have fun.
● Volunteer – volunteering is a great way to meet people who share your core values and would make good friends.
The dating expert’s advice seems wise: try both options. Meeting someone face-to-face can be very different from meeting them online. While both methods have their pros and cons: meeting in person can allow for more authentic communication, gives you control over time and place, and allows you to gauge a person’s trustworthiness and intentions. But on the other hand, online interactions can be convenient and accessible. Either way, we hope you give dating a try!