Yes, Online Dating Works For Seniors: 18 Tips For Success

If you're new to the world of online dating, here are some of the top online dating tips for seniors to keep in mind.

And if the tech itself is a pain point, Manly recommends asking a tech-savvy friend or your adult kids to help you choose a site, set up your profile, and sort through candidates. "Once the fear factor is reduced, many mature daters find that they actually find the process achievable—if not enjoyable."

We have a full guide to the best dating sites for seniors, but here are a few of our favorite picks:

When you first sign up, eharmony will take you through a lengthy questionnaire to learn about your personality, lifestyle, and relationship preferences so that it can show only the most relevant potential matches to you. It's a great option for those who know exactly what they're looking for and want to connect with similarly intentional people. (We have a full eharmony review if you want to learn more.)

OurTime is a dating app made specifically for people over 50 to connect with each other. While the interface is not as glitzy as some of the other more mainstream dating apps, OurTime is effective at what it claims to do: help seniors make new romantic connections. "I have had friends, family, and clients use it with success. My uncle met his long-term partner on OurTime, and a former client also met his partner on OurTime," certified sex therapist Heather Shannon, LCPC, CST, previously told mbg.

Yes, Tinder can be a great dating app even for the older crowd. People in their 50s, 60s, and 70s all use Tinder, and it's actually a great option for seniors because it's free and easy to set up compared to the more "serious" dating apps. If you're a beginner to online dating, Tinder can be a great place to start dipping your toes in the water. While the app does have a reputation for more casual dating, many people have found their lifelong partners on Tinder.

Ready to dive in? Online dating does have its own culture around it, including unspoken norms, expectations, and rituals people typically use as they meet and get to know each other. To succeed on dating apps, keep these top online dating rules in mind:

When making your profile, showcase who you are and be upfront about what you're looking for from online dating. "Create an authentic profile that represents who you are as a person, the qualities you are seeking in a partner, and the type of relationship you ultimately want (e.g., marriage, short-term dating, etc.)," Manly recommends. "An inauthentic profile may deter potential partners or, on the other hand, attract partners who aren't a good fit."

This also includes using up-to-date photos. "Take care that your photos represent you as you are now; avoid using photos taken more than two years ago," says Manly.

A few good rules of thumb are to take photos that are clear and high-quality (not blurry), without a lot of background clutter or other focal points (cats, children, etc.), she adds. You should be the focus of these photos.

Don't be afraid to send out introductory messages to people you're interested in. This applies to people of all genders, too. In the world of dating apps, being assertive and engaged is the name of the game. When people are sifting through so many profiles, the people who stick out are the ones who go out of their way to start up conversations, respond in a timely fashion, and generally make you feel special.

"Although it's important to connect via messaging or phone until you feel comfortable, don't delay an in-person meeting for too long; what feels like a great connection online doesn't always translate into a great real-life fit," Manly says.

"Be patient and persevere," Manly says. "It's natural to find online dating a bit daunting, but there's a great deal of truth in the old axiom that you sometimes need to (metaphorically) kiss a lot of toads to find the right partner."

You'll get the most out of your dating experience if you go in with an open mind and a light heart. There's so much joy, excitement, and curiosity to be had in getting to know an intriguing stranger and gallivanting about town for dates. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself (or anyone you meet), and enjoy the process. Even when you encounter people who are not the right fit, gracefully let them go, keep your head up, and keep it moving.

Here are a few safety measures to adopt while online dating:

Many online dating scams involve getting you to send money to a person you think you're developing a romantic connection with. For example, a person you've been talking to from a dating site or app suddenly says they're having a financial emergency and asks if you can help them out by wiring them some money, putting money on a gift card, or sending some cash through Venmo or PayPal. Don't fall for it. If anyone asks you for money before you've even met in person, it's likely a scam.

Never share any personal information that can be used to access your finances or identity, such as your:

Yes, it's recommended to keep even your phone number private until you've met the person in real life or at least had a video call to confirm that they are who the say are. Until then, keep communication on the dating app or site where you originally connected.

"Pay close attention to details that don't match up," Manly adds. "Don't hesitate to report any suspected fraud; customer service staff are generally very helpful and supportive, as they want to protect consumers."

Try to meet up in person or at least hop on a video call sooner rather than later after matching with someone on a dating app. This way, you can make sure the photos match up to the person you're meeting in real life. If a person keeps avoiding meeting up with you in person and refuses video calls, that's a red flag.

Love bombing is when someone starts to becoming way too romantic and affectionate with you way too soon. This is usually done to make you feel closer to them and make you more likely to acquiesce when they make requests for money or private information. Be wary if someone seems overly attached to you before they've even had a chance to meet you in person.

You'll also want to keep safety in mind on any dates you go on from a dating app, but especially first dates. Manly recommends picking a public place such as a coffee shop, as these are generally safe and have other people in the vicinity.

Manly recommends leaning on a trusted friend or family member who can help you vet profiles and people objectively. When you're going on a date, let this person know who you're meeting, when, and where, so they can keep tabs on you and make sure you get home safe.

Exercise thoughtful online dating safety measures, be yourself, and be patient. You never know who you'll meet.