10 Tips for Dating in the Social Media Age

1. Chill With the Commenting/Liking

Generally speaking, when you have mutual interests and like similar things, you'd hit it off. There's no need to "like" every single status update your significant other posts, nor comment on it.

Tell them in real life how you feel. If it's not significant enough that you would call them and acknowledge it over the phone, it's probably not necessary for you to bombard their wall.

2. Timeline

Contrary to what many movies made you think, your life is not a rom com — so don't dramatize it. Beginning a relationship with someone is great, so simply enjoy it for what it is, and don't worry about adding a lifetime event to your Timeline.

With all the new Facebook features, it's important to pay attention to what you're making public on your profile, so that it doesn't come back to haunt you later.

3. Go Do Something!

Stop stalking your significant other's every move/comment/post and carry on as you did before you became an item — it's what he/she was interested in in the first place, so why would you want to change that?

4. "Facebook Official"

This is our generation's contribution to milestones like first date, first kiss, etc. Once you have the conversation to become an item (and please, talk about it in person beforehand — a request to change your status is not an acceptable form of telling someone you want to be with them), then you have every reason to make it public. But respect your partner's decision to keep relationship statuses private if he/she chooses to do so.

5. Friending

Want to know more about your romantic interest's friends? Wait until an introduction. Don't friend his pals just to see more photos. Instead, ask him what he and his friends like to do for fun. It's more organic, and if he's really into you, he's probably already told them about you.

The same applies for family members. In case it wasn't obvious, don't friend his mother. Don't do it.

6. Foursquare

Unless you're both admittedly devout, badge-hungry Foursquare users, don't tag your significant other when you check in, especially if you're not already friends on the service. Enjoy yourself! The world doesn't need to know you're on a date.

There's nothing wrong with finding a good deal or trying a hot place through location-based services, but try to remember you didn't go on a date just to level up on the "Bender Badge."

7. Twitter

Don't use Twitter to talk about the date to your friends, or to the person you're going on the date with. And PDA is sexier when it's a little more discreet, so send a message via text or DM.

Also, easy on following everyone your significant other follows — it's kind of like spying. You have your interests, he has his. There will be an opportunity to overlap.

8. Blogging

If you want to blog about your date, take full advantage of the privacy settings. Even if you are reminiscing about how great it was, it might be taken the wrong way.

If it wasn't such a good date, be a bigger person and don't make it public.

9. Quit While You're Ahead

Breaking up in a world where things are more publicized than ever is hard. Be the first person to change the relationship status on social networks — don't wait for your ex to do it. If a friend is the one ending a relationship, don't comment on the activity. Send a text or an email, or give them space to deal if they need it.

If you choose to stay friends with them on social media, take advantage of customization settings so you don't know what they're up to all of the time. Remove them altogether from location-based services, at least for a little while. You don't need to know what they are up to 24/7.

 

 

 

 

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