Online dating bad dates

By Jessica Sager — Written on Apr 22, Online dating is a great way for busy people with weird schedules or those who just want to meet someone new outside of their current circle to find romance with a potential husband, wife, or friend with benefits. Naturally, an online dating app or website could potentially be the missing puzzle piece in your search for true love. Sure, a lot of sites are alright, but some are definitely more on the sketchy side than others. Or at least, go in with your eyes wide open and be prepared for weirdos sending unsolicited pictures in your DMs.

Digital technology, especially smart devices, have transformed many aspects of our society, including how people meet each other and establish relationships — romantic or otherwise. Attitudes towards dating apps and services have grown progressively more positive in recent years. People are now not only turning to their devices to work, shop, and play, but to manage their personal lives and relationships too. Online dating is becoming more popular. Are online daters giving away too much about themselves? Are they, through online dating, exposing themselves and their devices to malicious people — or indeed malware — all too easily? The following report summarises our findings.

People have been entertaining others on social media with tales about some of their worst dates, after a man posted a story detailing his own nightmare encounter. The emergence of dating apps may have made it easier than ever to meet fellow singles, but it doesn't always equate to a match made in heaven. In fact, one study of 2, adults found that women who had met "The One" had to go on seven dates, as well as a further two blind dates and two internet dates, before encountering that special someone. The study also found men who had met their soulmate, on average went on eight dates, three blind dates and three online dates before settling down. Dating can be an arduous and expensive process too, with pitfalls ranging from having no shared interests to a general lack of attraction or chemistry.

But not every date turns out like an eHarmony ad. So in observance of Valentine's Day, we consulted readers, friends, a few experts, and a number of sites notably Craigslist Personals to gather the funniest, strangest, and most horrific online dating stories we could find. Lonely people, broken hearts, false claims, dashed expectations, doctored photos, bailouts, and no-shows--it's all part of the online dating experience, and we unearthed a little of everything. Online dating can produce some of the worst dates ever.