Here at the mature dating site, we know that meeting somebody new, getting to know them and letting your relationship develop into something remarkable is a sensation that simply can’t be beaten.
However, when you’ve been out of the game for some time, loss of confidence is something that many of us endure.
It’s a situation made worse by the fact that, for lots of us, the dating world seems to have changed drastically whilst we’ve been away.
Whether in marriages, long term relationships or simply not interested in dating, many of us have gone decades between our last first date and today.
One of the biggest changes has been the way we communicate, with texting rising to become the sort of everyday communication essential that phone calls are.
In dating, however, especially mature dating, texting has a different role.
Texting on your phone is a great way to keep people at arm’s length while getting to know them.
In this guide, we’re going to answer some of the biggest questions you might have about mature dating and texting, starting with…
Why texting beats messaging apps
Mature dating and texting are a match made in heaven.
Unlike messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, text messaging takes place over a cellular network instead of Wi-Fi. This makes it more private and less likely to be intercepted since messages are only stored locally on your phone.
Another reason text messaging beats IM apps like WhatsApp is you can’t see whether the other person has seen the message when you text.
This is a useful feature for the sender, but not the receiver, who may not want to reply straight away. Text messaging is more private, and this is the single best reason to use it.
If you want to get started with mature dating and texting, read on. This guide will help you make the most of it.
How should I talk when texting?
Everyone has their own quirks when it comes to communicating through certain mediums.
Perhaps you get formal when writing a letter and relax when on the phone. Maybe you’re flirty on the phone but emotional in letters.
Whatever your style is, it’s important to remember that texting is a casual medium.
It’s not something we’d recommend suggesting dates via and we’d never recommend ending relationships over it.
Instead, keep it funny, light and casual. It’s a medium that’s perfect for keeping in touch and can be a great way to get to know one another.
Should I use ‘text talk’?
‘Text talk’ was born out of the earliest days of text messaging when to type you had to press each button multiple times to select a letter.
However, in this era of touchscreen smartphones, it’s fallen out of favour significantly thanks to superior typing technology and an end to character limits for texts.
Studies have found that nothing as unattractive in dating as bad spelling and grammar, something which rules out ‘text talk’ for us mature daters.
Of course, your phone will have an autocorrect feature. This can be very useful, but you should still proof your text messages before you send them. Autocorrect is by no means perfect.
How long should I wait before I hand out my phone number?
When you’re using an online mature dating website, things have a natural way of flowing.
First, you find a profile that intrigues you. Next, you send a message off, introducing yourself. Then, if it’s all going well, you’ll meet up and see how things work out.
However, at some point, you’re going to want to transition your relationship away from the internet and on to your phone.
So, when is the right time to hand out your phone number? Here’s our three-part checklist:
- You’re comfortable with the person you’re giving the number to
- You trust that person not to misuse your number
- You intend to respond to the person you give your number to
If you meet those three criteria, then feel free to hand your number out! It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been chatting online for a day or a month.
Of course, finding somebody to text is the first step. So why not join Maturity Dating and start meeting single over 50s near you?
Our dating site lets you filter thousands of members by location, interests, education and much more. Sign up for free today and give us a go. Love could be just a text message away.
