In association with Airtel India

Singlehood In 2020 Has Hit Us Hard. Seriously, In This Year Of Social Distancing, With Soap Bubbles And Masked Men And Women, We Cannot Afford To Feel The Love Tonight, Or Indeed Any Other Night. *Sorry Elton John*

Thanks to the wonders of technology, virtual dating has totally become ‘a thing’. But even if we’re dating through a screen, we’re not off the hook. We still have to put in the right effort, so that our date knows we’re nothing less than P.H.A.T! 

So if you too are looking for love online through virtual dating then here are 10 golden tips you must follow to ace it. 

1. Thou shalt just be thyself

Take long breaths, and just stop freaking out. For all you know, they might be even more nervous about meeting you. Just remember to be comfortable and have a good time. 

2. Thou shalt maketh sure thy int’rnet is fast

You don’t want to keep saying “can you hear me?” every other sentence. Or say something and realise they’re hearing it 10 seconds later. That’ll be the biggest turn-off ever. So make sure you have a reliable internet connection with fast speed and low latency. According to Opensignal, a global authority on network experience analysis, Airtel not only offers the best video and voice call experience but also the lowest latency.

3. Thou shalt picketh the right background

No, we aren’t talking about a virtual background. Do NOT do that! It is important to pick a space that best shows your personality and interests. It can be your bedroom or your living area. Just remember, what’s in the background speaks just as much about you as what’s in the foreground.

4. Thou shalt weareth something comf’rtable but stylish

You may not be leaving the house, but you should look your best nevertheless. A nice outfit will make you feel more confident. But at the same time, don’t wear something that’ll end up suffocating you or look too over the top.

5. Thou shalt setteth the lighting right

This is very important. This person might just be the one you end up with. And you don’t want them to not remember what you looked like on your first date. You can use a lamp with soft light, that can help remove any sharp shadows on your face. And let’s not forget, the right lighting can make any place romantic.

6. Thou shalt show thou art int’rest’d

You might be smitten by their good looks, good looks annndd good looks! But trust us, just complimenting them on how great they’re looking is not going to take you far. Instead, show them that you are interested in knowing them better. Try asking them about their hobbies, their likes and dislikes.

7. Thou shalt setteth the cam’ra at eye level

Try to set your laptop or phone at eye level. This is important because uneven levels can inadvertently make one of you come across as dominating, which is not great. 

8. Thou shalt not checketh thy Facebook on the side

As in real life, so in the virtual. Do not think you can fool your date by opening a new tab and check your Facebook or finish your office work while the date is going on. Shut everything down, this is time for you two. Don’t do anything else. Trust me, one can tell. 

9. Thou shalt maketh sure thou art not interrupted

Dating virtually means you will be home, probably with other people there as well. But nobody wants to talk to your Dad, or your annoying roommate on the first date. Make sure you have some alone time and that nobody will disturb your date.

10. Thou shan’t feareth asking f’r a second date

If things go well on in this date and you guys hit it off, don’t be afraid of scheduling the next one. If you don’t want to do that, at least let the other person know you’d be interested in a second date. 

Social distancing won’t last forever, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop dating entirely. And with these pro tips, you can score the perfect virtual dates and maybe even find the one. But remember, at the end of the day, it IS a video date and making sure the audio-video quality is top-notch should be on the top of your prep checklist.