FaceTime Before Meeting Someone New

In the modern dating world, we know about staying safe by meeting up in public separately at first and the like. But what about talking face to face f

12:51 03 September 2019

It seems like FaceTiming someone before you actually meet them has become a thing. Weird as it may sound initially, people are starting to ask others to either video chat or hop on the telephone before they meet up for a date! And, if you take into account how instead of never talking to strangers we’re arranging to meet them for what’s hopefully a great night out, it’s a little easier to wrap your head around.

Why This Isn’t That Strange

Anything is remarkable if you spend too much time thinking about it. Have you looked at a Boston Terrier lately? Seen a pug? Really looked at these dogs? They are unusually shaped, to say the least.

FaceTiming before you meet someone isn’t as weird as it is awkward, and being a little uncomfortable is not necessarily a bad thing. It is rather a by-product of two total strangers trying to assess one another for dating and even long-term romantic partnership possibilities.

Setting up a phone or video call before a date can serve as a necessary safety precaution, too. As much as we need to try to assume the best of one another, there are people out there with less-than-great intentions. There are even tips floating around the internet that tell you what to do if someone on a dating application asks you for money! Spoiler alert. They are scamming you. Take your money and spend it playing Australian online pokies or something instead. That way you should at least get something back.

Who Have You Been Chatting To?

For all you know, the person you’ve been talking to could be your aunt Margaret or Uncle Adam, looking to spice things up. All you need is an Internet connection if you think about it. So making a tangible connection with Mr or Ms Maybe Right before you meet up is really quite a good idea. It helps you screen unwanted suitors and gives you a heads up as to what to expect.

Bumble, the location-based social and dating app, has started rolling out in-app voice chat and video calling under the safety banner. And a quick call can go a long way towards helping you determine if you want to go out with someone at all. A voice like Kermit the Frog or Dora the Explorer may be a deal-breaker for you. Or not! Maybe that’s your thing. No issues there, but meeting in real life, even over a video feed, also gives you the benefit of reading non-verbal clues and body language that can you tell you a lot about someone.

It’s Ultimately Up to You

When it comes down to it, you need to do whatever makes you feel most comfortable with online dating. The point is, don’t be afraid to ask, and don’t be too freaked out if someone sends you this request. Now that you know what the possible motivations are, and when you remember you can always say no, it gets a lot less unusual. Trust your gut. If you feel uneasy at any point, for any reason, unmatch, hang up, and walk away.