7 Ultimate Deal Breakers in Online Dating, According to Sociologists

A team of researchers led by Elizabeth Bruch from the University of Michigan has studied data collected from an unnamed dating website in order to find out what kind of dating deal breakers are most common. Unlike the “old days” where folks met through mutual friends or in public settings, the digital era offers several ways to meet potential partners via the internet. It’s much more common and socially acceptable to meet new partners online but what are the things most people decide are definite dating no-nos?

1. No Profile Picture? No Chance

Profiles that have no picture have zero chance of being successful. Blind dates are a thing of the past and let’s face it: looks count. It may sound shallow but there’s no arguing the truth in it. They could be hiding their face due to their looks or they’re being secretive about their relationship status and aren’t wanting to get caught by their significant other. Either way, onlookers immediately see this as a red flag, no matter the reason.

2. Smoking and Tobacco Use

Some say it’s a filthy habit while others find it to be a necessity. Depending on where you stand on the matter, smoking and the use of tobacco products could impact your online dating life. Far fewer people use tobacco these days so, expect a negative response if you prefer those smelly cancer sticks.

3. Drinking Habits

Alcohol use, while completely legal, can seriously affect the success of one’s dating profile. If you party too much and post it on your profile onlookers could see it as a bad thing. It screams immaturity and it’s possible that it could turn into an addiction, which rarely comes with a future anyone else would want to be a part of.

4. Age is a Big Factor

Research suggested that, especially for women, age was a huge concern in dating. It’s completely understandable for a person who’s in their 50s to be turned away by a 20-something young adult. The age gap is too big for most and typically comes with several character differences that most people won’t want to deal with.

5. Height Differences

The reactions between men and women to differences in height was very interesting. While women tend to choose mates that are taller than themselves, men seem to prefer the opposite. Women consider a taller guy to be more manly and mature while men feel more confident and strong with partners that are shorter than they are. Whether you have a height preference or not, it can easily affect you when dating online.

6. Weight and Body Type

Men included in this research were very unlikely to choose a woman with weight issues. Could it be from being shallow? Possibly. Maybe the person’s weight is seen as a clear sign that they’re most likely to have health problems, who knows? We’re attracted to what we like and if heavy-set partners aren’t a thing you want, then passing up their profile is a pretty easy decision.

7. Overall Personal Appearance

The picture people chose to display on their dating profile was a major factor for everyone. Those with blurry pictures or photos that showed themselves or their surroundings as unkempt were passed up the majority of the time. People in the research reacted very negatively to bad pictures on profiles. Can’t really blame them for that since your profile picture is essentially their first impression of you.

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About The Author: Stephanie Tanner is a stay at home mother dedicated to writing on every subject she can get my hands on. Learning, writing, and being a great parent is her main passions along with cooking, gaming and staying active. Her favorite quote sums it up, “The only evil is ignorance, the only good is Knowledge” – Nick Traina