We’ve all been there. You’ve been scrolling through Tinder for months now and gone on what seems like a million godawful dates. But this time feels different. This time, you think you’ve found the one. You even overlooked a few red flags because you see his potential. Oops.
You hear your phone “ding,” only to run out from the other room and find it: the unsolicited dick pic.
You had hope for this one. You even told your mom about him. But, of course, he turned out to be like all the other weirdos just hoping to get laid on Tinder. So, what can we do to avoid this type of scenario next time around?
Here are a few dating app red flags for you to keep an eye out for when dating online that signal “douchebag.”
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1. He Only Messages You at 10 P.M. or Later
A blatant red flag is a late-night message that says, “you up?” Not only is he too busy to message you during daylight hours, but he isn’t even willing to put forth the effort to write something longer than a two-worded question. If this is all you’re getting out of him, it’s safe to assume that a relationship with him will be short-lived.
2. He Goes Straight for the Wink Emoji
Turning every text into a sext is not cute. “Without me? ;)” Yeah bro, without you. And for a good reason. Guys that go out of their way to turn what you say into a sexual joke with any chance they get is almost a tell-tale sign that he’s just trying to hit it and quit it.
3. His Replies are Becoming Slim-to-None
He messaged you constantly at first. I mean, his replies were basically instant. If you’re starting to hear from him less and less as the days go by, it may mean that he’s found a new interest already, or he’s just too lazy to keep up any sort of conversation.
4. He Never Lets You Come Anywhere Near His Place
When a guy isn’t willing to let you come inside his place and only wants to spend time anywhere else, something sketchy is probably going down there. He may collect weird bugs or hide bodies under the floorboards. Be careful, sis.
5. He ONLY Wants to Meet and Hang at His Place
Even if you don’t mind a chill hang out, this one is important. Guys that have never made an effort to take you out on a real date are good indications of guys that will probably never make an effort to do anything else that’s nice for you. Period.
6. His Bio Sounds Like a Job Listing
If his profile only mentions to “swipe left if you [place any negative quality here],” or claims something like, “I don’t date [place another negative characteristic here],” be careful. It’s almost certain that he’s a conceited asshat who is only on the hunt for the “perfect” woman and is having a hard time letting go of his past relationships. Girl, take his advice and swipe left.
7. His Profile Claims that He’s “Only Looking to Have Fun”
Watch out for the bio that says, plain as day, “I just want to keep things casual,” or “Not looking for anything serious.” If you’re on the hunt for a genuine relationship—or merely not looking to deal with a guy who isn’t going to respond after your first date—swipe left. He’s more than likely being honest; he just wants to have fun.
8. His Profile Doesn’t Say Anything
Even if his photos are majorly hot, leaving a bio blank on a dating site is typically a sign that he’s either super boring or he just doesn’t care.
9. He “Jokingly” Asks for Nudes
When a guy makes any hint toward asking you for nudes but comes back with the “JK. Unless you want to…” He’s never “just kidding,” trust me. He may just be looking to ask for nudes in a way that doesn’t sound douchey. Jokes on him though, it seems like he doesn’t have the balls to just ask, and it’s still douchey.
10. He Only Has One Picture
There could be good reasoning for this. Regardless, it’s lowkey weird to have only one photo of yourself in 2020. Either this guy is insecure, or he doesn’t really look like that in person and might be trying to deceive some people into going out with him.
11. All His Photos Are Gym Selfies
There is nothing wrong with a confident guy, but there is such a thing as TOO confident. If all of his profile photos display him showing off his sweaty arms and chest, he may be too in love with himself to ever fall in love with you.
Online dating can be a whirlwind of emotions and generally comes with a lot of schmucks. But if you make sure to be on the lookout for these red flags along with anything that feels “off” about a guy, it’s best to go with your gut and steer clear. Good luck out there and happy online dating!
