AD – This is a paid advertorial but all thoughts are my own
Online dating has become so accessible for so many people. Regardless of your hobbies, interests, age or gender – there’s a dating site out there for you! Over the last year, I’ve looked into various different aspects of dating, including how to date safely with a disability and date ideas for gamers to name a few. And today I want to talk about how we – the younger generation – can help older people with dating online.
Photo by Renate Vanaga on Unsplash
Online dating is for everyone and older people have just as much of a right to find love online as any of us. Although I’m sure a lot of you will agree that older people and technology don’t ALWAYS go, so sometimes they might need a bit of help.
Although there are definitely some incredibly tech-savvy older people out there!
Getting older doesn’t mean we have less of a need for friendship, companionship and even love. And many older people will find themselves in a position where they feel ready for new relationships in their life or ready to fall in love again. Perhaps after the death of a spouse or a divorce.
Here are some tips for older people who are venturing into the online dating world and also how we, as younger people, can help them on their journey!
Choose your dating site wisely
Sometimes all it takes is finding the right online dating site. As with anyone who’s venturing into online dating, it’s worth trying a few different sites out to see which one gains you the best results. There’s no harm in signing up for a few to see which works best!
Stay safe!
When you start arranging to meet people on your online dating sites, it’s so important to stay safe. For an older person, it very well may have been decades since they last went on a date with someone new. The world has moved on a lot since then.
But safety is still as important as ever. When meeting someone new, make sure you:
- Meet in a public place
- Tell someone where you’re going and when you’re going
- Get a friend or family member to check in on you
There are also instances of online dating fraud, whereby people will ask for money to meet you or tell you a sob story (which is likely fake) to get you to send them money. If anything like this happens, block and report them and definitely don’t agree to meet them.
It is also important to know how to find a reliable and secure platform that can protect its users from fraud, harassment and other risks. To start with, make sure you research the app or website before signing up—read reviews and make sure their privacy policy is robust enough.
By simply Googling terms like “Bumble privacy policy” or “is Ashley Madison safe” you can easily investigate the legitimacy of these apps which will guarantee your safety throughout your experience. Consider checking that the app offers users an option to verify profiles using phone numbers or any other form of identification; these measures help you stay away from scammers.
Last but not least, keep an eye out for any flagging system within the platform; this feature allows you to report users who violate the rules of etiquette set by the app.
Related read: What You Need To Know About Romance Scams
Suggest an activity as a date
Dating at an older age for the first time is perhaps decades may be an incredibly nerve-wracking thing for a lot of people. Heck, it’s nerve-wracking for people who are regular daters! If you’re about to embark on a first date, suggest an activity instead of a sit down meal or coffee, which might end up feeling like a job interview, especially if you’re worried about what to talk about!
Only do it if you’re ready
If this is your first time in the dating world since a bereavement or a divorce, then the most important thing is that you’re ready. There’s no right or wrong and everyone goes at their own pace. If you go on a date and still don’t feel ready, that’s perfectly okay!
Consider your needs
Your needs won’t be the same now, at an older age, as what they were when you were 20, so it’s important to consider that when starting online dating. Think about your needs and wants when choosing potential dates and what dating sites to use as well.
You really can find love at any age. Age is just a number! Anyone of any age can date and find a new relationship and companion. The phrase “there’s plenty more fish in the sea” exists for a reason. Of course it’s an extremely personal choice but if you’re a senior and aren’t sure about whether you should date again – I say go for it!
Love is most important part in life
These are great tips, choosing the right site is so important. So many of them are only really for younger people, can’t quite imagine someone my grandparents’ age finding their soulmate on Tinder x
Hahaha no, definitely not!
You’ve included some fab points in this post. I completely agree that you can find someone at any age. We all need some companionship.
We definitely do. Loneliness is old people breaks my heart.
Good tips for those looking for love and companionship in their later years. Being safe is just as important for the older crowd as it is for teenagers.
It really is!
Oh this is super cute although I wouldn’t know the first thing – we met in a bar through friends! haha xx
Don’t think your old enough to worry about this yet Alice xD
These are such great tips x
You’ve mentioned some great tips. I completely agree that you can find love, no matter what age you are.
You absolutely can!
Such a fab post! I imagine it’s such a scary thing to go back to dating especially when you’re a bit older too. These are all brilliant tips xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
Oh definitely. The thought of dating full stop makes me feel sick haha!
Thank you. I can imagine so too!
What a great topic you choose and what a great you write, I am impress, thanks for sharing this with us. Really you write very well and it is a very good topic.
Keep it up, Jenny. Wonderful job.
Thank you 🙂
Admittedly it is something I’ve never had to do or try and it’s a while new world of something I don’t understand x
Well if you don’t need to, then no need to worry about it!
I hope I never have to because I’m happily married! My Father In Law has tried a few different ways – online and dating ads, back in the day, but nothing major ever came from them! x
Beautylymin
Fingers crossed that you won’t have to!
Both my parents started dating again after their divorce about 6 years ago and ai think it’s hard for older people for sure xx
I’m sure it is!
My mother met her boyfriend via online dating. The biggest difference that I noticed with them is that the sugar coating and over the top attempts to impress weren’t there the same. When you look at many profiles of the younger generation, they are carefully picking the ‘perfect’ picture, bragging it up in their bio, etc. (generalization, of course) but the older generation is more blunt in their approach. They know who they are and that they don’t want to change, so they aren’t afraid to share it – recognizing that while it may scare some people off, those aren’t the people they were going to make a relationship work with anyway.
Ah that’s amazing and I definitely agree!
This is such a helpful post. Staying safe is so important for dating at any age. I think dating is difficult at any age, so these are some really helpful tips. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren http://www.bournemouthgirl.com
For sure. The thought of dating terrifies me!
This is a lovely read and something to pass onto older people I know who are looking to enter back into the dating world x
http://www.dellalovesnutella.co.uk/
Thank you 🙂
This seems pretty difficult to me. I met my BF at a party from uni, so I can’t imagine what dating is like when you’re working and not meeting as many people anymore.
Well you don’t have to worry about it yet, so I wouldn’t!
Nice read, love it