We managed to get in touch with Redditor LuckyC1723, who was kind enough to have a chat about what inspired them to start this conversation in the first place. "I was just curious to see what other people value. It’s interesting to constantly see a lot of notifications from all the responses. It was fun," the user shared with Bored Panda. "It was cool to see what things were the most common 'passes.'"

When it comes to the instant turn-offs they personally feel while swimming in the deep waters of the dating pool, "not smiling with teeth is my biggest one", the user said. The one response that stood out the most in the comments was about the profiles with lists of demands, they added. "I’ve seen them but forgot about those types of bios."

As people jumped to the comments to share the most frustrating things they encounter while looking for The One, a brief scroll through this list may convince you that navigating the twists and turns of the online dating world is tough. "I think it’s difficult because there are so many options," LuckyC1723 said. "Why take this person seriously when you have another person or several waiting to talk to you."

"Respect yourself," the user advised. "If you’re confused about someone you’re interested in — move on. A person who is also interested in you won’t confuse you. You’ll know for sure they are into you."

Today, an astonishing number of people turn to their phones or the internet believing it’s the best place to meet singles. Statista reports that in 2020, there were an estimated 26.6 million smartphone dating app users in the United States. And it’s hardly surprising, as dating sites and mobile apps are extremely helpful tools to bring two people together. Most of the time.

Because despite what many people think, the dire reality is that finding a partner has not become easier at all. Data from Pew Research Center has shown that nearly half of U.S. adults — and a majority of women — say that dating has become harder in the last 10 years. Would-be daters sometimes experience how apps tend to bring out the worst in some people, and many consistently express dissatisfaction, frustration, and hopelessness about the process.

To gain insight from an expert in the field, we reached out to dating coach Sally Heart who aims to help women build the necessary mindset and strategy to find and attract the love they truly deserve. She has a free online dating safety course called Safety Hacks for Online Dating to keep women safe from the dangers of online dating, including how to avoid scams or risks to personal safety using smart resources.

According to Sally, people tend to face many emotional hazards as they swipe and scroll because on these apps, the feeling of anonymity is present, even if people share their photos. "Some people lose the sense that there is a real person behind the other screen, and as a result will say or do things they wouldn’t normally do if they had met in person," she explained.

The dating coach pointed out that while there may be many pitfalls in online dating, the biggest one is daters failing to make a strong enough attempt to meet other people. "You should be trying to go on at least a date a week. At the end of the day, online dating is no different than regular dating… it’s a numbers game!"

"The more people you meet, the more likely you’ll meet the right person for you," the coach continued. "Your goal should be to try to meet people in person as quickly as possible because that’s going to determine if there is a real connection and fit for the long term. The in-person connection will always trump an online connection."

But it may feel challenging to find a match when dating apps nudge people to make split-second decisions by relying on profile pictures and descriptions that guide them. "Online dating IS all about looks and first impressions," Sally told Bored Panda. "That’s why I encourage all my clients to put some effort in their profile pictures while painting an 'accurate' picture of who they are."

The dating coach advised you to always put your best foot forward and show off your best assets. "That said, don't use filters in an attempt to make yourself look better. For men, they hate it when they can’t see a woman’s body in pictures, and for women, they hate it when men wear nothing but hats and sunglasses."

"You want to accurately represent what you look like but in the best light possible. Wear your nicest clothes, the ones that show off your best assets and make an effort with your hair, makeup and overall aesthetic. It’s not about wearing tons of makeup if that’s not you, but about showing yourself in the best light," Sally added.

We were curious to learn what mistakes to avoid in a profile bio, as well as what a good online dating profile should look like to give you real chances of finding love. "The BIGGEST mistake I see people make with their online dating profile is including negative language: 'Don’t message me if… I can’t stand a man who… My pet peeves are… I hate it when...'" Sally explained.

"Another terrible faux pas that I continue to see people do is to crap all over online dating or allude to the fact that you don’t want to be online: 'My friends made this profile for me… I know this isn’t the best place to meet people… I haven’t had the best luck with this…' etc."

Your profile is crucial when determining your success online, so if you wish to stand out from the crowd and find potential dates, Sally had a few suggestions. "People should be focusing on showing and demonstrating who they are by painting a picture. Instead of saying 'I am a kind person', you could tell them how you demonstrate that characteristic 'I help out at a local shelter every month.'"

While it’s important to remember that online dating takes time, the dating coach offered some tips to help you find a match in no time. "If you’re a woman, ASK MEN OUT! Being the approacher is different from being the pursuer. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of men love it when the woman makes the first move, so BE BOLD," she advised.

Moreover, consider including videos or audio of you talking in your profile as this makes you feel like a real person. "[This] reduces the number of negative or rude messages you’ll receive and increases your odds of connecting with people and being asked out on dates. It’s harder to be mean to someone who you can watch and listen to, it makes you more 'human,'" Sally concluded.