Many singles are drawn to Internet dating because it represents such a flexible way of seeking prospective partners. With such a diverse range of websites to choose from, signing up to become a member can generally be achieved with little hassle, and for many dating outlets this procedure is free. Reviews on seniordatingsitesfree.com even do the groundwork for you, advising which sites are to be most recommended. However, there are still certain unwritten rules about this venture; here are the top five.

Don’t reveal too much too soon

While there can be a tendency to get caught up in the excitement of a positive connection, resist the urge to be overly enthusiastic when you are still getting to know someone. What you always have to bear in mind is that the Internet can sometimes resemble the Wild West, with virtual bandits lurking behind Firewalls. There are unscrupulous individuals out there who are only too willing to exploit newcomers. Some create fake profiles – known as catfishing. These people might seem charming and pleasant enough, but they have ulterior motives. Alarm bells should ring when another site user begins enquiring about your online banking passwords.

Honesty is always the best policy

Because Internet dating can be a crowded marketplace, it is only natural that creating a profile can seem like a golden opportunity to try and stand out from the crowd. You can do this by focusing on your achievements and positive character traits but only emphasize these informally. Try and avoid bragging. All the personal information you provide should be 100% accurate, right down to the profile photo you choose to upload. You want to avoid giving the impression you are not to be trusted.

Forget about mind games

In the offline world, you may well have come across potential dates who liked to toy with your affections. A common ploy might have been to lead you on, then feign disinterest, only for the passion to burn brightly again just when you were least expecting it. This hot and cold approach doesn’t work in the online environment. Site users have a much lower tolerance threshold. If you kid on that you’re playing hard to get, ignoring someone’s affable direct messages for longer than is polite, there is no guarantee that person is going to hang around until you seem ready to commit. The most likely outcome of this scenario would be for them to assume you’d lost interest and move on. To use the modern dating parlance, you would end up being ghosted.

Have realistic expectations

Sure, you might well meet your soulmate after only a modicum of flirting with the other site users on your favorite dating outlet. But the chances are you won’t, at least not straight away. You should never feel you are being pressurized. Take a chill pill and spend time in the chat rooms, or browsing through the profiles. If one connection isn’t going anywhere, just move on.

Don’t assume online dating is a shortcut to sex

Of course, there are dating websites that are less about building relationships as providing a platform where singles can get familiar but only as a prelude to one night stands. All sorts of tech exists where members of casual sites don’t even have to bother with courtship or subtle messaging. A quick swipe to locate kindred spirits or a notification about which members of the hookup outlet are in their proximity will suffice. But this isn’t the case with most sites. You will still be expected to devote time, tact, and patience into building a rapport before anything gets physical.