Questions You Must Ask About Your Online Relationships

By Dr. Judith Tutin. Posted on Jan 23rd 2013.

Social media is a great way to connect. Just beware of the dangers!

A. I'm talking in person, not Face Timing or Skyping. What are you getting out of the online contact and what are you missing out on? One recent study concluded that only real-life friends lead us to feel happier. Another study found that you can have a lot of online friends, but you won't feel supported by them the same way you do by your real-life friends. Online chats, texts and even phone calls are for getting to know someone. Once that's done, it's time to move on and meet up, or end it.

• Q. Why can't I find him on Goggle?

A. Not everyone has a huge internet presence, but you can tell where they ought to show up. Someone who graduates from Stanford should appear on an alumni list and a professional should be listed on a licensing website. The absence of this type of confirmation ought to raise your suspicions. You can always ask the person about it. Any reasonable person meeting online would understand your desire for a little concrete validation that they're who they say they are. After all, people lie.

More from YourTango: Listen Up, Guys: Women Have The Power In Speed Dating

Ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly. Then move away from any imaginary boyfriends you uncover and keep it real.

Find an expert!

Article contributed by

View profile

Advanced Member

Dr. Judith Tutin

Family Coach

Judith Tutin, PhD, ACC

Location: Rome, GA

Credentials: ACC, PhD

Website: http://drjudithtutin.com

Other Articles/News by Dr. Judith Tutin:

After the Breakup, Change Up Your Playlist To Put On A Happy Face

By Dr. Judith Tutin

What do Lucinda Williams’ Essence, Annie Lennox’s "Bare" and Steely Dan’s "Everything Must Go," have in common? They're all breakup CDs that came out roughly around the time of my divorce. Perhaps gray skies were gonna clear up, but in the meantime, I had to have them. I’m not even sure I knew ... Read more

Listen Up, Guys: Women Have The Power In Speed Dating

By Dr. Judith Tutin

You have three to eight minutes to snare a date; what's a girl to do? For starters, you can relax. Women actually have more power in the speed dating arena. Why? Well for one thing, research shows they're more selective about their dates than men. (I know, thank you, Professor Obvious.) Still, research has some good tips to offer for the speed dating ... Read more

Positive Socializing Is Good For Your Health

By Dr. Judith Tutin

An apple a day used to be enough to keep the doctor away. Or so we thought. We now know that a healthy diet and exercise are critical. We know we have to keep our weight down, and can't smoke or abuse alcohol in our quest for good health and longevity. Now we can also add spiritual activities like meditation to the wellness list. Meditation leads to ... Read more