Can Online Dating Be Real? How to Tell If They're Sincere
5 min read · 中文版
Plenty of serious relationships start online; online dating itself isn't the problem. The question is whether the person on the other side of the screen is who you think, and as serious as you are. Here's how to tell.
It's about the person, not where you met
Meeting a partner online is now common; it's just another way of meeting, like an introduction through friends. Whether a relationship is solid depends on whether the other person is sincere and whether you fit, not on where you met.
The real risk online is that information is one-sided: you only see what they choose to show you. So online dating calls for confirming things step by step, not for suspecting everything.
What sincere people usually do
They'll video-call: after chatting a while, someone serious is willing to show you who they are and where they live.
Their words and actions match: what they say about their job, city and life adds up, and they do what they say, rather than blowing hot and cold with endless excuses.
They're happy to go slowly, and also happy to meet: they don't rush your decisions, nor keep putting off meeting. When the time is right they'll suggest meeting and respect the time and place you choose.
Signs to be careful
Always having a reason not to video-call or meet; a profile and photos that look too perfect; declaring love and planning a future very quickly.
The conversation drifting toward money: investments, trading, borrowing, receiving payments for them, or asking you to download a trading app. However real the feelings seem, stop the moment money comes up; that's the most common pattern in "pig butchering" scams.
Pushing you to another app, or asking you to keep the relationship secret from family and friends.
Frequently asked questions
Can feelings in an online relationship be real?
Yes. Plenty of serious relationships begin online. The key is confirming step by step: chat, video-call, then meet in public. If they're happy to go along with that pace, it's usually a sign they're serious.
How long should we chat before meeting?
There's no fixed time. More important than the number of days is whether you've had a video call and have a basic sense of each other's relationship goals. Once you've done both, consider meeting once somewhere public.
They keep refusing to video-call. What should I do?
Say honestly that you'd like to confirm on video. If they keep making excuses, don't invest more feelings, and certainly don't send money; report them on the platform if needed.
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