These days, online dating is pretty much a norm for millions of people. In the past, people met their significant other at work, at university, through mutual friends, or even just on the street. These days, love stories often start with a like on social media or a swipe on an app. These days, we’ve got loads of ways to find a partner. But can the internet be a place where deep and genuine feelings are born? Let’s work it out together.
Online or offline – which is better?
This question often causes arguments between psychologists, sociologists, and those who like to think about it. Some people think that love only comes from talking to each other. Others insist that it is entirely possible online. They say that the internet has meant that people who might not have met in real life because of distance or shyness can still find each other.
But the stats still show that most couples meet in real life. School, work, friends, events – these places are still great for meeting new people and making friends. But every year, the number of couples who met online is growing. Like, someone started by just chatting in the comments, and a year later, they were already celebrating their own wedding. And there are more and more stories like this. They show that you can build a proper relationship online if you’re both interested.
Actually, online dating has loads of advantages. First of all, it’s really handy. You can even meet your soul mate without leaving your home. It’s easy to get to know someone who’s hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away. Plus, online dating saves time. You can tell from your letters if you have anything in common and if it makes sense to keep getting to know each other. But, of course, there are also disadvantages. The thing is, the image created online often doesn’t match up to reality. This goes for how they look as well as their attitude.
How are offline and online couples different?
Couples who meet in real life tend to have more in common. They’re often united by work, study, a group of friends or simply a shared hobby. This is already a pretty solid foundation for a relationship, because from the start, people have things in common, jokes and even problems that they deal with together. That’s why these relationships often outlast those that start online.
The thing is, with offline dating you actually get to chat in real life, rather than just matching with someone on an app. When you meet people face-to-face, you can see them in different situations and spot their real emotions and reactions. Also, IRL, people learn to understand each other through facial expressions, tone of voice and body language. On the internet, we’re missing all these non-verbal cues; we only have photos and text to go off.
For a lot of people, online dating is seen as a way to have a bit of a fling or just look for a bit of fun. Often, people just swipe through profiles without really trying to get to know someone. But there are exceptions. So, it’s not fair to say that online couples are weaker. It all depends on the people and what they’re trying to do. Some people install the app just to find a partner for the evening. Others are actually looking for their soulmate.
Also, the platform you choose is important. There are services that are designed for casual flirting and non-committal communication. But there are also platforms designed for finding a soulmate. We’ll chat more about them later.
Video chats for those looking for something more serious
For ages, chat roulettes were seen as a fun thing to do. But recently, things have changed a lot. These days, it’s pretty easy to find love online, with sites like Coomeet and Mirami. These services don’t have the usual problems you find with classic dating apps.
With MiraMi video chat, you won’t find any outdated photos or misleading biographies. Communication happens in the moment. It’s almost as if you’re all in the same room, chatting face-to-face. Plus, you’ve got all those non-verbal cues again, which are really important for getting to know someone better. You can see how your conversation partner is feeling by looking at their face and listening to the way they talk.
Another great thing about online video chats is that they help people get together more quickly. When you’re chatting over text, you often have to wait ages for a reply. When you’re on a video call, you can chat in real time. Plus, when you’re on a video call, there’s way less chance of a misunderstanding. It’s not always easy to express how you feel in an email, is it? And it’s not uncommon for a comma that’s gone rogue or an emoticon that’s got the wrong end of the stick to cause a bit of a mix-up. In random video chats, the conversation is more natural and as close to real life as possible. You can tell if someone’s interested in chatting by their laughter or frown – it’s a great way to gauge whether they’re actually having a conversation or just responding out of politeness.
Also, there’s way less chance of running into fakes in video chats. With dating apps, it’s hard to know if the person on the other side is actually real. Lots of users post other people’s photos and even generate videos using AI. In a chat room, you see your conversation partner for what they really are, because there are no filters or masks. And on Coomeet, for example, every girl not only registers, but also confirms her details. So you can be sure you’re talking to a real person.
Another plus of random video chats is how easy they are to use. Here, you don’t need to create a profile, add photos, or think about what to write in your profile. Just press the ‘Start’ button and the system randomly pairs you with a conversation partner. If you’re sick of swiping, this is a great alternative. Plus, you never know who you’ll meet when you’re on the other side of the screen. But if you want, you can narrow down your search for a potential partner. For example, you can specify the country, language, gender, interests, etc. For example, with Coomeet and Mirami, the system only pairs men with women. So, these platforms are perfect for anyone interested in talking to the opposite sex. There’s a massive and active audience all over the world, and there’s an instant message translation feature, so you won’t feel out of your depth even if you don’t know the language.
So where should you meet people?
Love knows no bounds and can blossom even in the most unexpected places. Some people meet their soulmate by chance in a coffee shop near their home. Others meet their soulmate by leaving a comment under a post on social media. It doesn’t matter if you meet each other in the real world or online. What’s much more important is whether you’re ready to put money into the relationship. At the end of the day, whether you’re together in person or online, a union has to be a mutual thing. And if you find someone special online, the internet could be the place where your happiest story begins.
