Researchers say this will give you, the online dater, enough time to get to know the person on the other end, and find out of they are a potential match. The study, which polled online daters, also discovered an online dating "tipping point," and noted that the longer people waited to meet especially after the 17 to 23 day time range , the more likely they were to be disappointed with their date.

Lead researcher Artemio Ramirez, Jr. counterparts the study was an inspiration after he meet his wife online in He adds getting to know the person on the other end is good idea, but if you wait too long, you may have already decided that person is "the one," — even if they aren't. While some studies have shown online dating doesn't necessarily lead to marriage , others have shown people who meet online have higher marriage satisfaction, and lower divorce rates.

And chances are, you probably know a couple who has met through online dating. How long did you wait before the first date? Was it before 17 days?

Let us know in the comments below:. But it can be especially daunting to figure out just how to move forward. How do you transition from potential partners to the point of meeting someone in real life? Here are three tools you can use to transition the sometimes murky waters of communication between men and women. Things can feel a bit different for online daters, though. But if you take a close look at how your conversations on online dating sites or social media tend to go, you can probably tell whether the time is right.

Does this potential partner respond to your messages consistently? Someone who is getting fairly interested in you will probably be eager to respond to any messages you send them and will seem to want to keep the online conversation going. As long as this person is responding and carrying the conversation a bit, you might look at whether the two of you have enough in common to visit on the phone. Time to give them a ring and see if the conversation really does keep flowing as you suspect it can.

Combating those nerves ahead of time can go a long way. Consider what you normally do to face nerves in your everyday life. Some people exercise, while others prefer a warm cup of tea. While some studies have shown online dating doesn't necessarily lead to marriage , others have shown people who meet online have higher marriage satisfaction, and lower divorce rates.

And chances are, you probably know a couple who has met through online dating. How long did you wait before the first date?

Was it before 17 days? Let us know in the comments below:. Skip to Main Content Main Menu U. News U. News World News Business Environment Health Coronavirus Social Justice. Politics Joe Biden Congress Extremism. Voices Queer Voices Women's Voices Black Voices Latino Voices Asian Voices.

Last Updated: May 28, References. This article was written by Lisa Shield and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Lisa Shield is a love and relationship expert based in Los Angeles. She has a Master's degree in Spiritual Psychology and is a certified life and relationship coach with over 17 years of experience. Lisa has been featured in The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, LA Times, and Cosmopolitan.

There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 31, times. You've met someone online that you think you might like, but you don't want to rush it. You know you should get to know them online before you meet them in person, but how long is too long? Never fear—we here at wikiHow have found studies that show how long you should wait before you meet someone in person that you met online. Beyond that, we'll show you how to get the most out of your online relationship before you take it live and how to make that transition from online to offline.

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Three weeks is the sweet spot for switching from online to offline. Studies show you have the best chances of happiness if you talk to someone online for about 3 weeks before you meet in person. Wait any longer, and reality might not match your expectations, leading to disappointment. Getting only this information can lead you to form an idealistic impression of the person in your mind. The longer you talk to that person online, the stronger that impression becomes.

If you and the other person meet when your impression is still fluid, you can adjust your idea of them more easily. At the same time, you know enough about them that the first time meeting them doesn't feel like meeting a complete stranger.

There's no reason to wait if you really click with someone. It's absolutely possible if not common that you'll meet someone online and instantly feel a strong connection. You both feel the same way and want to meet right away. Typically, you'll find you have a lot in common pretty quickly and feel like you're both on the same wavelength. Deciding to move your relationship offline within a few days of meeting is more common if you find that the two of you have friends in common or run in some of the same circles.

For example, you might say, "I can't believe we haven't just run into each other before! If the feeling's mutual, you'll know, but being pressured into an early meeting is a red flag. You learn more about someone if you get them talking. Closed questions that can be answered "yes" or "no" don't really tell you much about someone or give you any way to advance the conversation. Instead, encourage the other person to open up and share stories about their life.

For example, you might reference something in their profile directly and ask them about it: "I see that you enjoy running. Were you in the 5k here last week? For example, you might say, "I know that family is important to you. Tell me about one of your favorite experiences with your family. Dig into one topic rather than bouncing between subjects. Ask the person questions, then ask follow-up questions based on their answers. This allows you to get to know them on a deeper level. For example, suppose you ask the person if they have any siblings, and they say they have 2 sisters.

From there, you might ask them about their sisters, how old they are, what kind of relationship they had when they were kids, if they're close now, and how often they see each other.

You can also use their answers to springboard to another topic really organically. For example, if they say one of their sisters plays softball, you could continue asking about their sister or you could ask them if they play any sports. Make sure you're both on the same page before you get too involved. If you're looking for a long-term romantic relationship, let the person know as soon as possible after you start talking. If the other person is more interested in something casual, it might be better to let them move on than to meet up with them.

Some people say they're only interested in something casual because they don't want to scare others off. But good relationships are founded on open and honest communication, so it's best to be open from the beginning about what you want. Most people text or chat off the dating site before meeting. Exchanging numbers so you can text directly or using another messaging app might feel as though you've progressed in your relationship.

Essentially, you like and trust this person at least enough to give them your phone number. People who are demanding or controlling online might be even worse in person. Even after you start talking to someone online, remind yourself that they're still a stranger to you.

As much as you might think you know them, anyone can say anything they want online. Be wary if you notice any of the following: [7] X Research source They contradict themselves or change their story several times. At best, this means they're lying to you. If they can't be honest with you before you even meet in person, what does that say for the future?

You can't verify much, if any, information about them. It's unlikely that someone you meet online has no digital footprint. If you can't find them anywhere else online, they could be using a false identity to try to scam you or hurt you. They seem too good to be true. Someone who seems like they agree with everything you say and check every box on your "ideal significant other" checklist might be hiding something. Nobody's perfect, and while they might just be trying to impress you, they might also be trying to lure you into an abusive relationship.

Written By: Jason Lee. Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games. Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth. Never fear—we here at wikiHow have found studies that show how long you should wait before you meet someone in person that you met online. For example, suppose you ask the person if they have any siblings, and they say they have 2 sisters. Love Stages Single Taken Engaged Married Starting Over Complicated About About Us Contact Media Buzz FAQ Advertising Sitemap Privacy Policy Feedback Editorial Policy Medical Review Process Disclaimer sign up for newsletter Join Join Our Community Write for Us Jobs.

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