I imagine that everyone has seen a Match.com commercial and thought about why anyone would need to go online to find the "one?" Others think that all other opposite sexes want is something that doesn't involve an actual relationship. Also, people think that every man or woman that someone meets up with is going to harm the other person in some way. Or makes people second guess if the person in the pictures is the actual person they are talking to.
All of these negatives thoughts are what make people judge me when I say that I met my boyfriend of almost two years on a dating app. The truth is that online dating has the same possible outcomes as going on a blind date with someone you have never met before.
These online dating apps and websites allow for those who haven't been able to find someone in the "real world" to find the "one." By just adding pictures and a short bio of yourself, it allows you to see who really likes you for you. You have the ability to ignore or respond to a message without the feeling of rejection. By using online dating, it makes it easier for those who are self-conscious, whether it is about self-image or personality. You can literally hide behind the computer or phone to make yourself feel more comfortable.
As I first started using dating apps I was cautious about the type of people that I was going to meet. I questioned what the other person wanted and why they messaged me. Those stereotypes of not being the person in the picture or that the other person was just wanting something that I didn't want to give to them. I wanted to know that the other person wanted the same as me.
Once I knew this to be true, all I wanted to do was to get to know the person more than just their biography. It was just like meeting that guy/girl at the bar and giving them your number and them calling the next morning, not very strange. With sending messages before even meeting up, you might realize that you don't even want to meet up in person.
When people ask me how I met the love of my life, I shouldn't have to be tentative to tell them that I met him online. I should be able to tell them the truth right away without thinking about how they are going to judge me. Although it is unusual for someone so young to have met their special someone online, it shouldn't be considered as bad. True love can be found anywhere, whether that be in a bar or online. People meet their boyfriend/girlfriend in several different ways, my way was just online.
