How To Successfully Navigate Dating Apps

In the age of dating apps, it seems like everyone is ghosting, breadcrumbing, and catfishing.

You’ll experience at least one of these frustrating behaviors if you’re single and using any dating app. Navigating dating apps take time and patience but can be an effective way to meet people. 

What Is Ghosting?

Ghosting is when someone you’re dating stops responding to your texts, calls, and messages. Instead, they disappear without any explanation, as though they’ve fallen off the face of the earth. It’s confusing, frustrating, and upsetting.

How To Handle Ghosting

If ghosted, the best thing to do is move on. You’re avoiding wasting time identifying what happened or why your online date disappeared. They’re not worth your time or energy. So focus on yourself and find someone who’ll appreciate you.

What Is Breadcrumbing?

Breadcrumbing is when someone gives you enough attention to keep you interested but not enough to pursue a relationship. They might text you sporadically or like your posts on social media, but they never make any concrete plans with you. Instead, they’re avoiding commitment and investment into making a relationship work.

How To Handle Breadcrumbing

If breadcrumbed, the best thing is to talk to the person bothering you. Tell them that this behavior hurts your feelings, and if the relationship develops, you’d like to see some changes.

Be confident and assertive and set boundaries. It’s the only way they’ll understand your expectations. After all, you deserve stability and support.

What Is Catfishing?

Catfishing is when someone creates a fake persona online using fake photos and information. They may attempt to pursue a relationship with you under this false persona. This can both be unpleasant but also dangerous.

How To Handle Catfishing

If you’re catfished, the best thing to do is confront the person and ask them to tell you the truth. If they refuse or their story does not add up, it’s time to move on. It’s not worth your time or energy to pursue a relationship with someone who isn’t being honest with you.

Also, catfishing can be dangerous, especially as they are already dishonest, and you don’t know who you’re talking to. If you feel that you’re in danger, alert 911 immediately. Consider your online safety. Online dating might be dangerous so remember to take precautions.

Tips On How to Stay Safe When Using Dating Apps

Avoid giving out too much personal information. Avoid meeting someone you don’t know unless you’re sure it’s safe. Try meeting in a public place such as a bar or park familiar to you.

Always tell a friend or family member where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Trust your gut instinct. If something feels off, it probably is wrong. If you’re single and use a dating app, you’ll likely encounter ghosting, breadcrumbing, and catfishing.

Dating apps might be a perfect way to meet new people, but they can also be a perplexing wasteland. If you believe you’re a catfish victim, confront the perpetrator and ask them to tell you the truth. Only ever meet somebody from an online dating app in a public, safe place, and always tell someone where you are.