People on phones with social media icon chalkboard

Online dating is quite popular everywhere, except for Egypt. Even though dating became an essential, online dating in Egypt seems to be a no no. Which is ironic; many people have formed friendships through twitter and Facebook, and even dated some people using them, yet they don’t admit that itā€™s ā€œonline dating.ā€

Online Dating in Egypt

So is it really that bad, or are people just paranoid? We went around asking some of the few people who actually do admit using online dating apps, and checked some of the apps ourselves to see what really happens.

Who are the ones who use these apps?

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Tinder is now one of the most popular dating applications worldwide. Itā€™s popular here in Egypt too, yet no one says they use it. I decided to download it and see who are the ones in it? Total creeps? Serial killers? Or just normal people? Surprisingly, the majority of the guys I found on the app are people I know in real life. Some of them were actually friends of mine too. So the overall ā€œqualityā€ of people is good.

Are the people on these apps complete loners whoĀ can’tĀ date in real life?

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Obviously some of the people on the apps will be people who struggle with meeting people in real life, or canā€™t meet new ones. However, a lot of other people will be normal and social people who just didn’t find the type of people they’re looking for in real life. Even the shy, or antisocial ones of them are usually nice people who just have social anxiety or just donā€™t have the chance to be sociable.

Is it only for hook ups?

Online Dating in Egypt

Not a single person who went on online dates said they wanted a hook up. I was surprised when they all said they want to have a real thing. A real relationship, and maybe even marriage out of online dating. Guys, and girls, on it, claimed that dating people they meet in real life is harder than online dating.

Do you know the person more when you talk with them online before you meet?

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The ones who used online dating, and even the ones who didn’t, say itā€™s better to chat online with the person you’re about to date. You get to know who they really are, without the face-to-face awkwardness, when you basically feel like you have nothing to lose. Youā€™re more comfortable asking deal-breaking questions, and easier to have an overall judgment of the person youā€™re about to meet and you wonā€™t get to waste your time with useless dates.

How safe is online dating?

Of course you might get ā€œcat-fishedā€ and end up talking to a complete fake person. You could, however, make things safer. You could add them on Facebook, and through their profile realize if heā€™s a real person, or a fake. See how he interacts with his friends, and people of the opposite gender. And when you meet, have a couple of friends with you, and ask him to do the same. Meet in a place youā€™re comfortable in, and know the workers there, in case anything goes bad.

You would be a ā€œslutā€ if you use online dating?

This is for the girls who think theyā€™re sluts or cheap if they use online dating. Itā€™s 2015, and women started having more freedom and rights. You want to date, go out and put yourself out there. Donā€™t sit at home waiting for a prince in a shining armor to come and save you. Iā€™m sure many men on these apps and websites think theyā€™re only there for hook ups and the girls on it are cheap or sluts, but the majority donā€™t. These men, however, are everywhere in the real world. At least when you meet them through online dating, youā€™ll know from day 1 that theyā€™re closed minded and that they aren’t good enough for you.

Should you try it?

If you want to date, have a relationship, or even meet new people and have a nice evening, you should really try online dating. Of course you wonā€™t find the love of your life through the first date, but youā€™ll have more experience and will enjoy your time.