Creeping It Real: When it Comes to Dating Do You Love a Good Stalk?

Ah the Facebook creep. We know it’s wrong but it’s something that we just can’t resist doing, especially when there’s a new man in the mix!

According to a new survey, two-thirds of singletons are guilty of having a bit of a stalk online before they go out on a date with someone new.

The survey, which was conducted by online dating website Parship, revealed that 66 per cent of the people questioned confessed that they had checked out a potential date’s social media profile before agreeing to go out on a date with them.

Likewise, 77 per cent admitted that they had actually turned down a date with the object of their affections after they saw something they didn’t exactly like on one of the person’s online profiles.

The survey also managed to shed some light into the most common social media turn-offs. Apparently we’re less likely to agree to a date with someone if one of their online profiles has an off-putting profile picture, suggests that the potential date has a lack of humour, if they behave aggressively online, if they openly flirt via their profile or if they over-share on websites like Facebook.

Would you bail on a date if you saw something you didn't like on your beau's online profile?

“Your social media profiles say much more about you than you’d think, which isn’t always a good thing according to the results of our study!

“It was interesting to see that so many people admit to social media ‘stalking’ before they agree to a date, but with so much of our lives now lived online, it’s hardly surprising that it feels natural to check out online profiles before taking the plunge,” said Markus Fischer, the director of international business at Parship.

“People should keep in mind how they come across on social media, particularly if they’re looking for love. You may think your profiles present you as a hilarious fun-time lover, but it might look completely different to your potential dates!

“When it comes to online, just be yourself. That way, no horrible surprises will come from a first date – and if someone doesn’t like the real you, they’re not worth the date in the first place,” Mr Fischer added.

We have to ask: are you guilty of having a bit of an online creep before you go on a date with someone new?