Originally Published on MSNBC.com
Two years ago, a Match.com/Chadwick Martin Bailey study found that one in five new relationships and one in six new marriages are between people who met through an online dating site. But while it may be a great way to find your soul mate, you’ll be confronted with thousands of choices. And, like many other online offerings, the “product” received may not always be what was advertised. So improve your chance of success by keeping an eye out for the following red flags as you sort through potential date’s profiles:
Photos: Photos can tell you a lot about a potential date. No photo, or a grainy, out-of-focus or outdated photo, are a sign that the person probably has something to hide, or else is not really serious about the dating process. But Vondie Lozano, licensed marriage and family therapist, has some other not-so-obvious flags to add to the list.
- If they have a ton of photos, it could mean they’re a little self-absorbed.
- Do they have a photo of themselves with another person cut out of it? That’s a huge red flag on so many levels.
- Is there someone or something else in all of their photos? It’s good to have outside interests. But if their dog, friends, boat or even their kids are in ALL their photos, it may tell you a little about where you’ll stand in the scheme of things.
What he/she’s looking for: Requiring too much or too little are both red flags. You’ll never live up to the laundry list. If the person really doesn’t care, they’re probably looking for a “date,” not a relationship, or he or she may be looking to scam you.
Neuharth also notes that while it’s common for men to want to date women younger than themselves, if there’s too much of an age gap, it’s a sign he’s probably not looking for an equal partner in the relationship.
By Suzanne Kantra, Techlicious.com