Whether to use dating apps or websites or to meet in person initially to find a partner depends on your personal preferences and what you're looking for in a potential partner. All three options have their advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to consider them before making a decision.

Dating apps are typically more popular among younger generations and offer a more streamlined and mobile-friendly experience. They are inclined to give a feeling of being quick, effective, and risk-free. They often use a swiping mechanism where you can quickly browse through profiles and indicate your interest. Apps tend to be more casual in nature, with a focus on short-term dating, hookups, or casual relationships. If you prefer a more visually-oriented and convenient way of meeting new people, dating apps can be a good choice. Of course, you need to be aware of people who may not be legitimate and may pose a risk to you both physically, emotionally and financially.

On the other hand, dating websites often provide more detailed profiles and compatibility matching algorithms. They are suitable for individuals who prefer a more in-depth approach to finding a partner. Websites tend to attract a wider range of age groups and may have a higher proportion of people looking for long-term relationships or marriage. If you value extensive profiles, personality matching, and the ability to search for specific criteria, dating websites might be a better fit. They also give a sense of being more legitimate, however, you still need to be aware of how legitimate people and make sure to follow protocols that keep you safe.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of dating apps or websites depends on various factors, including your location, age, and the specific platform you choose. If you feel that dating apps and websites can be beneficial to you, try both options or use a combination of apps and websites to increase your chances of finding a compatible partner. Additionally, remember that while dating apps and websites can be convenient tools, it's essential to approach them with realistic expectations and use them as just one avenue for meeting new people. Building meaningful connections often requires time, effort, and offline interactions as well.

The option that I prefer to dating apps and websites is to go old-school and approach people where someone you would find attractive may frequent. This means you can avoid the old pubs, clubs, and music venues. The advantages to this is that you know what you are getting yourself in for the moment you meet them because there are no older profile pictures to hide behind and you can assess their body language, energy levels, conversational abilities and more, straight away.

The disadvantage is that you need to approach someone to initiate an interaction and this can involve a degree of risk in the form of rejection, embarrassment, and social awkwardness. Of course, this disadvantage can be an advantage, because, is they reject you, they have saved you time, because you no longer need to talk to someone who has already disqualified themselves from talking to you.

The option I promote to my clients is to go with approaching people in the real world. You can use dating apps and websites to supplement your efforts, however, I would avoid using them as your sole method of finding a partner. This is because you will ultimately have to physically interact with them anyway, so you may as well get in there and interact with them.

If you do insist on using dating apps and websites, just make sure to ensure that you are filtering people according to what is important to you in a partner and also to make sure that you are safe when it comes to the first few in-person interactions.