The Non-Sleazy Guide to Flirting Online

Today, people don't meet each other in bars, at parties, or in the checkout line. Where do they meet? Online. According to findings published in Bustle, the number one way in which married couples meet these days is via online dating apps (17 percent) and social media (two percent). Though the findings are certainly a win for millennials everywhere, they also indicate that tried and true dating techniques—or, rather, flirting techniques—must evolve to meet the shift in trends. Many people, regardless of which generation from which they hail, are having a hard time adopting these new flirting techniques. If you're one of them, the tips shared in this post are for you.

Skip the Pickup Lines

A good rule of thumb when it comes to meeting people online is, if you wouldn't say it in real life don't say it over the web. Pickup lines such as "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven," "Are you Google, because I've found what I've been searching for," and "Is your father an astronaut, because someone sure put the stars in your eyes!" are cheesy at best, sleazy at worst. Don't use them. The tried and true, "Hi, you have a great smile," never fails—online or not.

Write Like You Talk

Role play is sexy for about 10 minutes, but, as its name indicates, it never lasts. If you want to establish a real relationship with someone, be yourself. This means no out-of-character lingo, no false "accents," and no false promises that you have no intentions of keeping. When writing down your thoughts, imagine saying the words out loud in the dialect in which you imagine. If anything about the message feels odd to you, revise your words to create a message about which you would feel comfortable conveying.

Be Honest

This goes hand-in-hand with the above point. People turn to online dating sites such as Badults because they offer transparency. With online dating, you can skip the miscommunication, the misinterpretation, and the false pretenses. Online dating offers the perfect opportunity to be honest about what you're looking for and to find someone who can be just as honest in return. Contribute to the sincerity of the online dating scene and just be honest.

Find Unique Ways To Express Your Interest

eHarmony suggests using images, gifs, and emojis to show individuals that you're interested in them. For instance, if there's a particular individual in which you're interested who loves the TV show The Office, consider sending Michael memes in response to humorous statements or statements. If a person is a Star Trek fan, send a picture of Captain Kirk as a way of greeting. Though these methods may sound "dorky," for lack of a better word, they go a long way toward showing someone that you're listening to him or her and that you respect his or her interests.

Be Sexy, Not Sleazy

When deciding how much of your sensuality to reveal online, just imagine yourself in a bar. How far would you be willing to go with "sexy" talk in person and upon first meeting? Would you be willing to share a private image in real life on a first date? Chances are you wouldn't be willing to go far and that you wouldn't share private images, so don't so either online. Doing either is not only dangerous but it's not going to help you find companionship either.

Don't Put All Your Cards on the Table

Finally, remember that the ultimate goal of online dating is to find companionship or, if you're lucky, love. Entice those in which you're interested to want to meet you and get to know you better. You can do this by offering tidbits of information about yourself but keeping the major details to yourself until a first, second, or third date. Remember, mystery is the key to romance.

Ultimately, flirting is what you make of it. It may be just for casual fun or it could be the start of something more serious. It's up to you and your match to determine what you make of it.