5 things to know before you swipe right

Boomers may think dating in the 21st century is quite easy. One swipe, and BOOM, soulmate found! If only. The reality is far from it. Most of us are on multiple dating apps, endlessly swiping through profiles. Finding a genuine connection among thousands of profiles is a real task. It’s no joke. The struggle is real. Stumbling upon someone decent in this sea of options? That calls for celebration!
Before you swipe right on the next profile, here are five things worth keeping in mind.

Many dating apps now offer profile verification. This is one way to move past fake profiles, catfishers, and bots. While verification alone won’t guarantee authenticity, it is still a useful tool. If someone is “verified,” it means they took the time to fill out the profile and confirm their identity through photos or other checks. That is an added safety measure and also a confirmation that someone is “invested” in the process.

Before you start swiping—or even before creating a dating profile—ask yourself: what are you seeking? Are you looking for something casual or serious? Or perhaps you are just exploring. Understanding your intention is important. You don’t want to meet someone who is looking for something solid if you are here just for a hookup. Clarity matters.

On dating apps, the bio acts as the blurb to the book. The photo may be the cover, but the bio gives you a glimpse of what’s inside. The words could give you a hint of what to expect. Every word matters. So read carefully. A good bio often reveals someone’s personality, sense of humor, or intentions. They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but in this case, it doesn’t matter. Most importantly, you must know that you are not swiping right on a psycho killer.

If you have been on dating apps even once, you would be aware of profiles where you are greeted with group photos. What’s with this trend, really? There is no excuse for it unless the group is using the same profile. Solo pictures signal confidence. If not, it means something is not right. Maybe the person is unsure. Or maybe they are hiding something. Either way, you don’t want to go ahead with “maybe.” So feel free to swipe left.

You need patience to ace this dating game. You cannot expect good matches in the first three minutes. Though dating apps create the illusion of abundance, finding the right profile takes time. The more options you have, the pickier you become. Sometimes, the right person might take months to find. And sometimes they are a swipe away! Who knows.