There’s often a lot of pressure surrounding a first date, no matter how many times you’ve done it before. You want to look nice, smell nice, and generally impress the person you’re meeting up with. Well, that’s how it works in the real world, anyway; if you’re having a first date online, the dynamic can be a little different. It can be comparable to speed-dating, but with the option for getting down and dirty if that’s what you both feel like. You could be enjoying a free sex video chat on a site like Dirty Roulette, and find yourself stripping down within a minute of meeting the right chat partner.
That’s one scenario among dozens of possible first online dates; what about all the others? Depending on which site you’re on, things could move at lightning speed, or they could go at a more traditional pace. What else is different with using webcam chats for a first date, though? Keep reading to find out!
You have more background information on your date
Say you’re still in the searching phase of online dating. You know the kind of person you want to meet, and the dating platform you’re on provides various filters to help you find them. If you connect with someone who was suggested in your search results, you already know that there are certain things you have in common. This is way different than meeting someone at a bar, or even at a friend’s party. You might know that she has a great sense of humor and likes drinking artisanal lagers, but that’s about it.
If you ask someone you met online for a virtual date, though, you’ll probably be able to find out more about them before the date. This isn’t creepy behavior; it’s totally normal to check them out first, especially when they’ve linked their social media accounts (and even their Spotify accounts, in some cases) to their dating profile. Online dating sites are often fraught with fake accounts and catfish scammers, so this is what people do when they want to assure potential matches that they’re legitimate.
There’s less physical risk if the date is happening online
Whether you’re male, female, or something in between, there’s always going to be a certain amount of risk when you meet a relative stranger for a first date. Assuming the date will involve physical intimacy at some point, you have to make sure you’re with someone who will not only respect your physical and mental safety, but who’s also responsible enough not to pass on any communicable diseases.
Having sex via webcam comes with its own risks, but there’s a built-in safety net that works 100% of the time if an interaction starts going downhill – you can simply end the video chat. You’ll be removed from the situation, and there’s nothing the other person can do about it. Even with the obvious drawbacks of getting intimate online, this feature makes a lot of people feel more comfortable with the idea of having a first date via webcam.
The other person’s intentions are easier to understand
Think of everything that has to happen before the first date in the real world. Once you’ve met each other, you have to find out if they’re even single. If they are, you have to woo them, seduce them, or otherwise convince them that you’re awesome dating material. One of the most difficult parts of the process is actually nailing down the first date, because until that point, it was mostly just flirting. Did they really mean it, or were they just having some fun?
With online dating, the other person’s intentions are much clearer. After all, they’re on a dating site, and it’s pretty obvious why. You still have to put yourself out there as a potential match, but once you’ve made the connection, making future arrangements is pretty much a matter of course. You don’t have to spend time biting your nails and wondering if they’ll say yes, or laugh in your face. Sure, you could get some pretty brutal refusals online, or even get ghosted; that being said, it hurts way less compared to the real-world equivalent.
If this date doesn’t work out, there’s always next time
While it’s true that this applies to both virtual and real dates, it’s also true that there are a lot more fish in the sea when you’re dating online. First dates are famously nerve-wracking because they’re often so hard to come by; this results in a lot of pressure to get everything right.
By the time you get around to the first official “date” with your online love interest, though, you may have already spent quite a bit of time getting to know each other. Even if you haven’t had time for an actual date, you could still have been using other communication features on the dating platform to exchange messages, photos, videos, or whatever else occurred to you. Once it’s time for the first date, you’ll be thinking less about what could happen, and more about what you hope will happen.
You’ll already know what the other person has in mind for the relationship
Another big unanswered question on the first date: what are their intentions? While this might sound old-fashioned, it’s a legitimate question. Do they want dinner and a hookup, or are they looking for a long-term relationship? This is important to know, and in the context of online dating, it’s one of the first things that gets discussed, even before setting up a date. This prevents your wires from getting crossed, and reduces the chances that anyone will feel taken advantage of if they realize that the relationship was never going to go anywhere.
There are pros and cons to dating via webcam chat, but you can say the same thing about in-person dating too.
Online dating may not be for everyone, but if you’re happy with the format, it can be a great way to make connections with strangers and let romance flourish.
