Tips From an Unlikely Source
- Thursday, May 30 2013 @ 07:01 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 952
Teenagers. No matter what decade it is, the younger crowd always seems to be hipper, more sophisticated, and more technologically savvy. Well, if becoming more adept at online dating is what you’re trying to accomplish, it might not hurt to take advice from teens you know. Granted, they’re probably not as wise when it comes to romance and matters of the heart, but they’ve likely been integrating social interaction and the internet for as long as they’ve had friends. Surely they’ve got tidbits to share.
And they do! For one thing, they’re no strangers to privacy - or lack thereof - on the internet. Googling is likely to bring up a wealth of information - associated screen names, additional accounts, and so on - and they’re regular sleuths when it comes to looking someone up. Conversely, they probably know more than you’d think about hiding their true identity - though it’s their parents, not their co-workers, who prompt such actions.
Teens have also learned that while it’s safer to be a skeptic on the internet - facts get misquoted, pictures get edited and airbrushed - there’s also a place for gut instinct. “Even if someone can’t spell at all, you can still get a feeling about their personality,” a young acquaintance told me. “There are some people online that you like right away, and some that you just don’t, just like in person.” They’ve learned that if something feels false or “off,” they should probably heed that alarm - something that we adults might talk ourselves out of because “we don’t have any proof.”
They’re better at taking pictures of themselves. Yes, teens are often the pioneers of cliched and overdone “selfie” poses, but they’re also pretty darn good at catching their good side. Since digital cameras have almost always existed for them, they’re not daunted by the prospect of taking several pictures just to get one good one. And they’ve got a better eye for “interesting” photos as well. Go through a social photo network and you’ll find lots of bad pictures of food, but you’ll likely find several good ideas too - not to mention a crash course in flattering filters.
Yes, teens can be silly and self-absorbed - but they’re also social creatures intent on making the best possible first impression. We don’t have to pretend like we’re fifteen again, but if you’re looking for inspiration to liven up your profile, it can’t hurt to observe the young masters of the internet.
And they do! For one thing, they’re no strangers to privacy - or lack thereof - on the internet. Googling is likely to bring up a wealth of information - associated screen names, additional accounts, and so on - and they’re regular sleuths when it comes to looking someone up. Conversely, they probably know more than you’d think about hiding their true identity - though it’s their parents, not their co-workers, who prompt such actions.
Teens have also learned that while it’s safer to be a skeptic on the internet - facts get misquoted, pictures get edited and airbrushed - there’s also a place for gut instinct. “Even if someone can’t spell at all, you can still get a feeling about their personality,” a young acquaintance told me. “There are some people online that you like right away, and some that you just don’t, just like in person.” They’ve learned that if something feels false or “off,” they should probably heed that alarm - something that we adults might talk ourselves out of because “we don’t have any proof.”
They’re better at taking pictures of themselves. Yes, teens are often the pioneers of cliched and overdone “selfie” poses, but they’re also pretty darn good at catching their good side. Since digital cameras have almost always existed for them, they’re not daunted by the prospect of taking several pictures just to get one good one. And they’ve got a better eye for “interesting” photos as well. Go through a social photo network and you’ll find lots of bad pictures of food, but you’ll likely find several good ideas too - not to mention a crash course in flattering filters.
Yes, teens can be silly and self-absorbed - but they’re also social creatures intent on making the best possible first impression. We don’t have to pretend like we’re fifteen again, but if you’re looking for inspiration to liven up your profile, it can’t hurt to observe the young masters of the internet.
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