Dating Fails In The Digital Age
Standing out online means more than just having a great smile and some cool photos. Every word or picture you share sets the tone for how the other person perceives you, whether you like it or not. You may not know it, but it's all the little things that quietly push people away. This list contains 20 online dating cliches that might be getting in the way of you finding the love of your life.
1. “Just Ask Me Anything”
This lazy line pushes the effort onto someone else. A dating bio should serve as a first impression, not feel like a scavenger hunt. Instead of dodging the details, offer conversation starters. When you're vague, potential matches scroll on without a second thought.
2. Fish Photos
Hold up a trout, and you're not saying, "I’m outdoorsy." Instead, you're signaling, "I peaked at the lake." Many people will easily dismiss these pictures as the product of a template. Unless your match is a bass, those scaled trophies won’t work.
3. “Looking For My Partner In Crime”
Use this for a novelty mug, not your bio. It screams cliché and raises eyebrows more than interest. No one's plotting a rom-com heist. Say you're looking for someone to build blanket forts or binge true crime—anything less Bonnie-and-Clyde and more genuinely you.
4. Immediate Over-Familiarity
Calling someone “babe” or dropping “future wife” in the first message? Hard pass. Over-familiarity raises red flags. It screams impulsive attachment and poor boundaries. So, take time to build rapport. Let comfort develop naturally. Otherwise, what you see as romantic might just feel reckless.
5. Bad Jokes Or Obvious Pick-Up Lines
“Are you French? Because Eiffel for you” wasn’t funny in 2015, and it hasn’t aged well. Such punchlines miss the mark and make people cringe, not connect. You need to keep it clever or keep it moving. The best way? Use wit that reflects your personality.
Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
6. Bio That Lists Dealbreakers
Turnoffs in your bio sound like warnings on a product label. “No smokers, no vegans, no drama” comes off cold and defensive. How about highlighting what excites you? Let people opt-in, not feel like they’re walking on eggshells before saying hello.
7. Only Group Photos
How will you feel meeting someone whose face you can’t spot in five photos? Group shots blur identity and leave potential matches confused. If people can’t tell which one you are, they won’t stick around to figure it out. So, stand solo and confidently.
8. Trying Too Hard To Sound Sexy
Seduction shouldn't feel like a sales pitch. Over-the-top bios dripping with innuendo often come across as desperate. If your goal is attraction, authenticity wins. Want chemistry? Start with charm. A profile that reads like a late-night infomercial is getting swiped left.
9. “Not Sure Why I'm Here”
Sarcasm or sincerity, either way, it doesn't work. It reads like you don’t know what you’re doing with your life. It turns people off. Dating apps aren't therapy sessions, so show up with clarity. If you're really unsure, take a break and come back focused. Confidence attracts.
Mental Health America (MHA) on Pexels
10. Sunglasses In Every Shot
Mysterious? Maybe. Emotionally unavailable (or pothead)? Probably. Every photo hiding your eyes sends a message—one that says you’re hiding something. Just show your face and let potential matches read your expression. Eye contact builds trust, even in pixels.
11. Monotone Voice Intros With Zero Energy
Flat voice notes kill momentum faster than a buffering screen. You’ve got one shot to sound approachable—don’t waste it whispering like you’re in a hostage video. Speak with clarity and just enough energy to sound alive. If it bores you, it’ll lose them.
Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels
12. “Hey” And Nothing Else
One-word openers are the beige paint of digital dating. “Hey” lacks direction and energy. It gives zero clues about who you are or why you swiped. Want replies? Lead with curiosity. “Hey” rarely hooks anyone. It just floats there, forgotten and unread in inboxes.
13. Blurry Or Heavily Filtered Pics
Snapchat rabbit ears, 2012 grain, or that blurry ski lift pic? None of them says “dateable.” They tell others that you didn’t care enough to update your camera roll.” If your photo looks like Bigfoot proof, it’s time to upgrade.
14. Entire Bios Written In Emojis
Does your bio read like a toddler’s sticker book? You’re making people decode feelings instead of forming them. Ditch the cryptic chaos. Emojis can enhance, not replace, communication. When someone needs to translate hearts and pizza slices, you’re not flirting but confusing.
15. All Caps Bios
That loud text doesn’t make a loud impression. Maybe you want to sound confident, but it looks aggressive. Shouting through your profile creates tension before the first message even drops. Try to show your enthusiasm with the right words instead.
16. No Punctuation Or One Continuous Sentence
One long, unending sentence. No commas, full stops, or even text breaks. People will quickly lose interest. Punctuation shows effort and clarity. Without it, tone vanishes. Think of it as conversational oxygen. You wouldn’t want potential matches to suffocate while reading about you.
17 “Just Moved To Town”
New beginnings are great, but don't let this be your whole identity. You can mention relocation if it sets up a story or goal. Otherwise, it feels like a filler line. How long will you be staying? What brought you here? A job? The beaches? Offer at least something.
18. Gym Mirror Selfies
Flexing in front of a locker room mirror might highlight muscle mass, but it shrinks personality. It often backfires and reads as vain or one-dimensional. Instead, share a candid photo from a hike or game. Your gym should shape you, not your dating identity.
19. Copy-Paste Openers
Recycled lines kill the connection before it starts. Generic intros like “Hey, beautiful! How was your day?” may sound sweet, but they’re everywhere. To stand out, you can reference their profile. Otherwise, copy-paste shows you’re not really interested.
20. Ex’s Arm Still In The Photo
Breakups happen, but your dating profile shouldn’t feature limbs from the past. When there's a cropped-out figure with suspiciously intimate proximity, it raises questions. Use clean, solo shots. A profile should say, "I’ve already moved on," not "I’m clinging to old chapters."
