In our social media world its important to remember that how you are perceived online can be as important as your first impression you make in person. It may seem shallow to judge somebody at first glance, but I believe in today's world of creeps and catfishers, the dating scene is skeptical about who YOU actually are. It's common to browse through someone's 'social' before deciding if you want to go on that blind date. Think of it like 'yelping' a new restaurant. What catches the eye of men/women online?

This week I chatted with Meredith Jacqueline on my podcast 'Sex Actually' (ep 262) about her dating life. She described what women are looking for when they browse your social media. First and foremost, she wants to see Instagram pix of you enjoying life. Instagram should be a reflection of who you are, in a nutshell. Shirtless selfies might get you some likes, but you might also attract a shallow partner. Meredith mentions that she likes to look at a guy's 'tagged photos', not just the ones he posts. This shows a little range of friendships, social circle and other hobbies. Women can sniff out inauthenticity at levels that most men can't comprehend. The female intuition is strong so no need to bullshit your way through life. Find a way to express your passions without transparent car salesman slime. Pictures with sea turtles never fail.

I always tell my buddies, if you get rejected at a bar, chances are the lady is rejecting your 'approach' and not you as a person. She has no way to know how dynamic of a dude you actually are. Same goes for social media. So, let's audit your page. It's your brand, your identity and will help attract someone of equal badassery.

How can you project an AUTHENTIC image of who you are in your last 9 IG pix? To properly use social media, you aren't trying to fool people to think you live in the most badass world, its just a quick teaser trailer for your life story. NO PRESSURE. I was surprised to find out Meredith actually met her current boyfriend through instagram. He messaged her randomly. I never thought this actually worked! She was attracted to this dude's humor, and was drawn to his photos, saw that he liked the outdoors, travel and brewery's. When it comes to posting online, there's no right answer, there's just a more DYNAMIC one.

The moral of the post, be AUTHENTIC to who you are as a person. What do you love about your life? 2018 is knocking on your door step. Will it be the year you try something badass? Scare the shit out of yourself with conquering a fear? Surely your social media will reflect the type of world you've created for yourself, and I'm sure it'll help attract the perfect person to sit shotgun along the ride. Take it from me, a guy who has dated a lot of wrongs to find his right, you'll get the relationship/sex life you deserve, and if the results aren't there yet, take that frustration as a sign to continue pursuing your path of authenticity. Be an expert on happiness and who wouldn't want to hike that trail?

I'm new to sharing my thoughts on reddit.. Along with performing standup comedy, I've been hosting a fun podcast for the last 4 years called 'The Sex Actually Podcast'. I get a chance to interview hilarious comedians who open up about their dating lives, sex stories and what it is that makes us who we are. Its been a motivational/fun experiment, connecting with so many people over the years. If you want to catch up on all my past episodes, they are free on itunes, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Here's the link. Let me know what ya think!

Sincerely, Dave

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/262-how-to-date-using-instagram-open-relationships/id744156889?i=1000397829881&mt=2