Online Friends.

Hello m'loves.

So, this post today is something very close to my heart aswell as i'm sure thousands of you out there; Online Friends.

Who remembers when they were younger before "proper" social media was invented we were taught not to talk to strangers, not to speak to anyone you don't know online etc. (although i must admit the awful days of "chat rooms" there were a few, lets say "interesting" individuals you came across.) but like everything technology has evolved! Facebook was invented to reconnect with your friends and family but the Holy Grail that is Twitter was basically created to interact with people you didn't know.

Think about it, Celebrities and aspiring musicians/artists/actors etc use Twitter as their primary source of gaining new fans to grow their following and success. To be honest, it's quite impossible to even remember life before it. How did we find out the latest gossip so fast? What did we use to vent? How did we know about events etc? It's very scary how pretty much everyone on this planet relies on the internet nowadays. And of course, by following your favourite people you're going to interact with other new strangers who share your interest from all over the world. For something potentially so dangerous, it's actually pretty amazing. 

Over the years I have been lucky enough to find friends across the globe from when i was a fan of The Wanted {y'know the other boyband that wasn't One Direction .. Glad You Came?} well with their growing success came growing fans and I was in this little bubble with so many my age who wouldn't judge me unlike my "real life" friends and we would gossip, laugh, cry together until the early hours of the morning, gushing about our love. 

Honestly, when I first got Twitter I never expected to be able to grow such a deep connection with someone over a computer and I have had many friends that have come and gone but each time was truly special and if you had the opportunity to meet, it would be the most emotional time you could experience. Thanks to everyone I've met online, I've had the chance to travel some of England, Ireland and Wales. I've gained experience and memories so to those who frown upon it, those who constantly undermined me and judged me for liking "a poxy band" it was the best decision of my life.

And here I am today. I may not be crazy over a boyband anymore or in any kind of fandom but at almost 21, I'm still meeting and befriending people everyday. With different lifestyles, different backgrounds it's so fascinating to me and right now I have Dublin to look forward to where I will see Soph who I met in 2011, I'm going on adventures with Charlotte {who lives near me BUT WE MET ON TWITTER} and my two current closest friends Jay and Sam who I met online, and we are all uncomfortably close to the point we share everything. 

And even more exciting news; I GOT TO MEET JAY YESTERDAY.

 

Never underestimate the power of the internet.

My word of advice is; Speak to Strangers! (But obviously be aware of creepy people lurking around.)

Love you all lots!

P.s. My photoshop is back up and running so I'm playing around with header ideas for each post, what do you think?

Katie x

How To Stay Safe On Dating Sites/Apps.

Eharmony, Tinder, Grindr, POF, Love Match, even social media sites are being infamous for finding dates!

Gone are the days where you bump into a handsome stranger in the street, he spills coffee over you and you both fall madly inlove.

Okay, so even the most cliche Rom Coms are dated now and I expect even if they did make a film about 18/Female/UK seeking 40 year old millionaire, they'll leave out the part where 90% of the people you find online are NOT NORMAL.

This is why Catfish is also one of my favourite TV shows because they show the reality of meeting someone online and how a fantasy can be crushed by one (or in most cases a few!) lies. Because it's so easy to lie on the Internet right? How many of us got a social media account before we were 13 and changed our DOB, or clicked the "I Have Read The Terms and Conditions" box? At the time we had no idea how much that one lie can escalate.

As a single girl, of course I have experienced going on dates with someone I have met on social media and I've recently signed up to Plenty Of Fish to see whats out there because I've found having Tinder and swiping right if I like what I see is so degrading and how am I going to tell what kind of person they are by their Profile Pictures on Facebook?

This is what our society has come to, modern technology has reinvented the way we communicate with new people so here are a few tips from my own experience to help you:

• I'm all for giving everyone a chance, so treat it as if you're meeting someone for the first time in person, if they were in your opinion "ugly" you wouldn't just ignore them if they said hi would you?

• Flirty banter is the current phase but know your boundaries and retain your dignity. If the conversation becomes uncomfortably inappropriate too soon, get rid! You aren't going to find The One by recieving a d**k pic are you?

• If you do find you are liking him/her, protect yourself. Don't go all Nev and Max on the poor thing but before you get in too deep, know who you're talking to. It's a very small world, 9 times out of 10 someone you know is bound to know them or of them but just to be sure, double check it's not psycho Derek down the road luring on you.

• Meet them before committing to them. Someone's personality written down is far too generic. It's a fact of life, not everyone gets along even if you're consdered a "perfect match" online who enjoys long walks on the beach and napping; so does a dog!?

• IMPORTANT: When meeting for the first time, day dates are perfect or even going for a drink in a public place. That way you're in a secure environment and it's preventing yourself from any danger.

If I've missed anything out, you don't agree with something I've said or you have any further tips, please let me know. I think it's our responsibility to look out for eachother these days.

Katie x