If you are in the age group of 50 year-old daters who are using Tinder for the first time, you may feel a little out of your element. You might have a lot of questions about whether it will work for you or not, and about online relationships in general.
Well, no need to start swiping left yet on an online love life! We’re here to fill you in on everything you need to know about using an app or website for finding love as someone with a little more age. Read on to learn whether hookup apps are for you, and what your options are!
What to remember as a mature Tinder user
The Tinder dating scene has undergone a large change from its earlier days of strictly being a service for no-strings attached sex. Now, people of all ages and backgrounds use the service with a lot of success.
That’s right, it isn’t just for millennials anymore!
With as many users as the app has, their range of people who are interested in dating either other seniors or someone older is pretty good. After all, your potential matches will be based on the info you and others put into your dating profiles that the algorithm compares.
This means that so long as someone is interested in dating an older person in your area, you’ll have a shot at matching.
Are you looking for the best Tinder openers to help you meet singles online? Check out what we’ve got to say to help you break the ice!
Of course, you should also remember that the majority of users here are younger, around their 20s and 30s. However, this doesn’t mean you won’t find other mature users, or that users won’t be interested in meeting you. It has a wide audience with many interests.
The best thing to remember when you use the app is that you should temper your expectations as you move forward. You’ll have the best odds in an urban area, like a major city, too.
Getting started: some advice and tips for Tinder users over 50
Whether you are using Tinder to find someone for a serious relationship or you just want to hookup, you are going to need to first focus on presenting yourself. This means taking the time to set up your profile so that it clearly states your intentions and who you want to date.
This means a few things. First, as a user who 50 years old or more, you should make sure that you are up-to-date on how an app like this works and what kind of dating slang members might use. It is fairly user-friendly, so don’t expect too much difficulty figuring out the app.
Next, you are going to want to find or take a very good picture of yourself for your profile. Ideally this is a picture that captures your best side and looks high-quality. f you aren’t confident in your photography skills, make sure to either ask a friend or hire a professional.
After all, a picture says a thousand words, and it will be the first thing that catches someone’s eye when they browse your profile and match up with you.
Take as much time as you need to fill out the profile information to the best of your ability. Be clear with what you want in a relationship, the type of person you want to date (age, sex, weight, etc.), and make sure to talk about your passions and interests.
Give other users something to go off of when the reach out to communicate with you. You want to also see something provided by the people who catch your eye as well. It’s a great way to help break the ice, find compatibility with other singles, and ensure quality match-making.
Finally, if there is a personality test available, why not give it a try? You don’t have to do this but this always gives users a little extra to look at. They can even be fun to do and give you some useful insight into what you may want out of a relationship.
Getting these online services for meeting other singles to work for you as a senior can feel hard. It helps if you follow some general guidelines when you try online dating as a senior, but rest assured that many do find happiness this way.
However, there are some real life expectations to keep in mind as you proceed.
The real life expectations older women and men face with online dating
The truth is that most seniors who look for matchmaking opportunities are the kind who want long-term relationships. While a decent portion of potential partners might be more interested in casual meet ups or the like, most want something deeper: companionship.
Many singles in their upper years are looking for someone who might be a life-long companion. This means sharing experiences, providing support, and simply being there so neither of you suffer from loneliness.
Of course, finding a partner is more than just avoiding loneliness. You want to be with someone that makes you happy and fulfills you, sharing in your passions and completing you in a way that makes your twilight years exciting.
On the other hand, you should be aware that many people may not use dating apps like Tinder for the kind of serious relationships you want. If you want no-strings attached sex, there are many people you can match with for that.
You should also be aware that there are generally more men on dating services like this than there are younger or older women. This can make finding a partner harder for men. That doesn’t mean you won’t or can’t, but it does mean you will have to put in time and effort.
Ultimately, you can use Tinder to find a perfect partner as a 50+ dater. There is a community who uses the app for finding solid matches to partner with. However, even though it may be possible, we don’t think it is the best place to look if you want a lasting relationship.
Difficulties older people face with senior dating
Trying to find a good online place to meet other seniors for dating can feel stressful if you aren’t looking in the right place. On top of that, there are other things to be worried about as you start out.
The unfortunate reality is that seniors are in a demographic in the dating world that puts them at risk of scams and being taken advantage of. There can also be people who may hesitate to make the first move messaging you if they see you are much older than them.
Any type of dating service can place you as a senior into this type of situation. One where you just need to swipe left or right based on their picture is ripe for being taken advantage of. Then there’s the reality that sometimes technology just evolves beyond the grasp of elderly singles.
The best thing you can do as a senior dater is to keep the following in mind and practice what you can:
- Take your time to read through each profile. Don’t be tempted to just jump at the first match that looks good. Really read what they’ve written. If they don’t have much information available, be very wary. It could be a fake account.
- You don’t have to force yourself to flirt if it isn’t really you, although learning how to can help your odds. Then again, it’s always best to be yourself, so be honest when you do make your profile.
- Although great photos help a lot on a dating site and you should want something close to a professional quality, there’s a limit. If the photos look like they are of a supermodel or someone perhaps a bit too attractive, be wary.
- Take the time to learn new things about how relationships work online, and how people communicate certain ideas. A lot of slang comes and goes, and while it may sometimes seem arbitrary, it can other times refer to something important for you to watch out for.
- Until you’ve had your first date with someone, don’t provide them with any sort of personal information like your address or phone number. Never give your banking information to anyone ever, and avoid giving any sort of details about social security or the like.
- Be patient and try to explore as much as you can of the available communities online. Reach out beyond dating services into areas like special interests and hobbies. You can also meet people for a relationship this way. Expect to have to dig a bit to find that special someone!
- If you are just starting to date after having coming out as a senior, then there may be even more obstacles for you to overcome. Take some time to prepare yourself for the new stage in your life before diving into online relationship services.
Feeling excluded as a senior on Tinder? Find out here why ageism may play a role in your online dating experience.
Best dating app alternatives: Bumble, POF, and more
Maybe you want to try a dating app that isn’t quite as popular or well-used as Tinder. That makes plenty of sense, and there are definitely some good ones to look at. Bumble is a huge up and comer for meet up apps, giving women the first say on each match.
We highly recommend it, as its location-based technology will make finding local matches even easier.
Hinge is also a highly recommended app to try out. There are a lot of similarities between it and other major apps. They excel in offering easy to use services and catering to communities who want a serious chance at romance.
If neither of those strike your fancy and you want something with a little more history, Plenty of Fish (or POF) has a great app alongside their website that can greatly improve your odds at meeting someone special. The bonus is that you get the reliability of an experienced service.
Some of the best dating sites for higher age ranges: Silversingles, eHarmony, and more
Where do you go if an app isn’t working for you or just doesn’t really seem to match up with what you want? Not to worry. There are many dating websites that cater specifically to helping you meet single seniors for long lasting relationships.
Most websites offer free membership when you sign up. This gives you an opportunity to check out how the profiles look and feel, and what you can expect to see as you date.
Sites like eHarmony and Match.com are more general in their userbase, but have quality reputations and active communities. This is especially true for seniors, despite not specifically being for older people.
That is because they offer such great services for helping people to build and establish life-long romances.
If you do want a service that focuses entirely on the over 50 crowd, dating sites like Ourtime and Silversingles give you excellent places to enjoy looking. They offer senior user-friendly interfaces and active communities there are all looking for meaningful relationships.