Hacks to look for love online in times of confinement

Valentine's Day is approaching and this year you are stuck. February is going to catch you permanently confined... but we hope not alone. Whether you are looking for extended cohabitation units, Glovos buddies from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. or simply a weekend suck, we share tips for finding love online in times of confinement.

Many fish in the sea… and many applications where you can fish

It's cool to keep clicking on the typical ones from Badoo, Tinder, Grindr... but if you're already back from your favorite application, the first thing we'll do is encourage you to delete them and try your luck with others.

By way of natural selection, our mega study (of 5 colleagues plus the goalkeeper we asked) shows that each app is successful with a specific audience and function and, where some only get a cold, others succeed more than Rosalía. Not because we have tried them all, but they tell us:

• That Tinder continues to suck and especially if you go on a trip somewhere... that is, at the moment nothing matters and the faces of the group are already making you look bad.

• Happn, which was designed to flirt with people you meet has become the neighborhood fuckfest, so it is going up points in confinement.

• They are also starting to launch one called Sapio where they force you to share your interests before matching... if you like getting to know someone deeply.

• Meetic, Match, Hinge, Okcupid, Parship.es, e-darling… you get the idea, right?

Before casting the rod… pre

To manage expectations before jumping into action, you should keep 2 things in mind:

• It's not for me, it's for you. There is 50% of the group that declares that they are online out of boredom/fun/seeing what's out there... but they don't want to stay. Assume that it is NORMAL that you only end up REALLY talking to between 1-8 people out of every 100 with whom you try (this varies depending on the app, blood alcohol level, time of night and so on...) but come on, don't worry. Rayles, it's not because of you. It's how the game works, nothing more.

• The first impression still counts... a lot. Prepare your profile and be direct and clear with what you are looking for. This way you will attract people who are looking for the same thing as you and everyone will be happier. Along those lines, use your best photo in your profile, as first impressions count. You know, with our Handsomefyer you will appear with the wapo uploaded and without Instagram filters in between. 😜

Tips for good manners in apps

Let's say you are clear about what you want, you have created a profile and you are in chat mode. Well, the next step is some basics of digital courtship (let's see how many you fulfill consciously or unconsciously):

1. You never want to have the last word. Always end with a question or statement that prompts an answer. If you cause a dead end... it is difficult for things to move forward... so 'make it' easy for the person on the other side.

2. Invites action. The goal is to go from an online conversation to action outside the app. A subtle way to do it is to propose mini-challenges such as 'if you guess what I do... I'll buy you a drink'.

3. Hesitating and fooling around opens doors and legs. Humor and good vibes go a long way. Practice it whenever you can and you will see that the number of 'hahahaha' in conversations is directly related to how cool the topic flows and how close you are to getting it right.

4. Add gifs and emojis. In writing it's hard to know if you're joking or if you're serious... and gifs and photos are the closest thing to expressing your tone of voice online.

5. Tell how it feels to twerk with you. Although it may seem tempting to talk about work, what you do on the weekends or where you've traveled, what's really engaging is conveying what spending time with you would be like for the other person. Sharing or negotiating a perfect plan wins both parties a lot!

6. Positive language always… we all have a bad day and who knows how many bags or backpacks the person you're talking to carries on their back. If they attack you or come out with ugly things... take a deep breath, swallow your pride, be nice and move on...

Come on, there's already a feeling with someone... now what?

Well, exit the application as soon as you can and… STAY! That was the point of all this fuss!

The applications are an endless catalog that invites you to always be looking (that's what they are made for), so... if you feel that there is a connection with someone... quickly go to phone, WhatsApp or meet directly (however you feel most comfortable).

And having a 'neutral' reference site is always cool. For that first 'let's have something' it's good to go close to your trusted bar that you know is close enough so that you don't feel lazy to take off your tracksuit, but far away so that they don't follow you home. If you go a lot, the waiters will even become your allies because they empathize with these issues.

Happy-power closure

And you will get 1 out of every 1000, you will be left with thistles that lied to you, you will have terrible powders and you will spend hours with your finger melted... but embrace all those moments because they are the best. Online (and offline) flirting is the source of the best anecdotes and experiences shared with colleagues, the kind that make your stomach hurt from laughing when you remember.

Whether it is looking for the love of your life, a fuck, a handjob or an entertaining conversation with someone new, everything is experience points, add and continue to your life bar and you have to enjoy sip by sip.

Be happy in the process and twerk as much as you can (and want)

We do cool right!

Siwon