Online dating is a fabulous and endlessly fun way to meet people from the comfort of your own computer.

Thanks to the internet, it’s now said 1 in 5 relationships begin online. So you don’t want to miss out on that 20% chance of finding a new friend or soul mate.

Still we would be remiss not to mention that this method of meeting must be used with care.

Even just a decade ago, single people met at parties and other social gatherings and chose potential partners based almost completely on outward appearances.

Sure it was a superficial way to select someone to date, but at least there was safety in numbers.

Almost everyone in attendance would be known by the majority of people there, so you could easily find out more about someone you had your eye on and have your first interaction with them in the presence of your friends.

Nowadays, even though there are millions of people on the web, online dating is basically a one-on-one activity. So that safety in numbers is gone.

The new world of dating online opens up many new opportunities, but also calls for care and caution.

Every game has its rules and unless you know them you can’t become a good player and eventually a winner.

Everything that applies to the internet, applies to online dating as well. The internet allows for unlimited possibilities in communication, and it is this feature that has caused the incredible popularity of online dating, but also leads to the major problems of this method of meeting.

The pros include: People can start from scratch and get to know everything about each other before an actual encounter takes place. Tastes and preferences, likes and dislikes, interests and obsessions can be discussed so that, when you actually do meet the two of you are already quite well acquainted.

The cons include: Well, cons. Con men are everywhere on the invisible world of the internet. The possibility for unlimited communication leaves a lot of space for guile as well. The person misusing online dating may range from a practical joker to someone with evil intent in search of victims. A bit of homework is definitely called for before you actually set out to meet someone you only know online.

We want you to thoroughly enjoy your online dating experiences. Still, from time to time, we will be there with some safety tips for you.

For example, if you are online dating then you obviously know your way around the internet. If you find yourself interested in someone, use the web to learn more about them. Do a search on their name, their profile on Facebook or LinkedIn, information about their school records or work history. If anything doesn’t match what they are telling you…?  Well, how far will a relationship go that starts with lies?

Planning to meet? Treat the encounter like a blind date. You’ll want to start with something short and safe for both of you. Meet for coffee in a popular restaurant. Don’t be shy to have a friend with you or sitting nearby.

Then relax.

Your online acquaintance may well turn out to be the date of your dreams!