Times have changed and in this century everything is done online.

So put yourself in their shoes for a minute: You are putting yourself out there and trying to find love in a place where there are many scammers and ridiculous characters. There are genuine people online, but very few are true to themselves and others. So all you can do is support and help them make online dating work for them and make sure that they are safe at all times.

According to shape.com here are a few ways to make online dating work for you:

• Be specific – in terms of what you’re looking for in a relationship and in a person
• Try to log on daily – so that the person that might be interested in you sees that you take this seriously and that it is on your priority list
• Proofread everything – remember first impressions really last
• Don’t use clichés – for example, things like “I want a romantic guy, that likes long walks on the beach”
• Be authentic – use recent pictures and do not mislead people
• Do your own homework before getting too involved

Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about meeting people online, the advanced technology in our society has made online dating acceptable.

Ready, steady …. go - date online!!

OFM News/Sazly Hartzenberg