What Are Beige Flags & How Do You Avoid Them?

Beige Flags blog cover

If you’ve ever used a dating app, you’ve likely come across beige flags. But what actually is a beige flag? Simply put, a beige flag is a warning sign that someone might be boring, and they are associated with bland, generic dating profiles.

So, what should you look out for? Beige flags come in all shapes and sizes. Examples of beige flags include when someone has added a single low-quality photo or when their profile lacks any real details about who they really are. To some extent, beige flags are subjective. What one person considers to be boring might seem perfectly okay to someone else.

Beige flags don’t necessarily guarantee someone isn’t worth pursuing, and they don’t call for the same level of concern as a red flag. But they do serve as a potential warning sign.

In anything, they are certainly used to filter out potential matches. When people invest in someone on a dating app, they want to make sure that person is worth investing in, especially if they’re looking for something long-term. Small details can be key indicators that something isn’t quite right with someone you’re considering dating.

Beige flags can be a dealbreaker

When online dating first took off, there was understandably a lot of excitement around being able to swipe on your phone and be on a date with someone in a matter of days or even hours. 

Now, dating apps have become the standard way to date, and we have become pickier.

Bored

Dating app fatigue is real, and people are fed up with going on dates with just ‘anyone.’ We are all busy, and we don’t want to waste an evening sitting opposite someone we aren’t compatible with in any way. 

This has meant that people’s standards for dating app profiles have gone up. If your profile shows beige flags, a lot of people will now just move on to the next. Dating app profiles have become more creative and interesting as the years have gone on, so the bar is now higher.

Ultimately, online daters use beige flags as a filter to reduce the chance that they end up wasting their time.

Why people are put off by ‘beige flags’ on a person’s dating profile

There are three main reasons why people are put off by beige flags on someone’s dating profile.

1. They imply someone won’t make an effort in the future.

If someone hasn’t put much effort into creating their profile, it makes you question how seriously they will take things further down the line. You might question whether this person will reply to your messages or make time for you. A minimal-effort dating app profile can indicate that they might not be willing to invest much time into you in the future.

2. They make people seem uninteresting.

Beige flags can be a sign that someone doesn’t have much going on in their life. Generic dating app profiles can make you question how original and fun they will be in real life. At the end of the day, everyone wants a partner who is unique in some way.  

3. They can raise concerns about opening up.

Beige flags can indicate that someone isn’t willing to open up and show you their true self. Creating a truly original dating app profile requires vulnerability, which is essential for building a connection. At the same time, there are exciting and all-around great people who are just innately less comfortable with revealing details about themselves online. So this is something to bear in mind.

4. They indicate someone is looking for something casual.

Beige flags can make you question whether or not someone is seriously looking for a partner. If their profile is too generic, it can be a sign that they are just looking for something casual or short-term. If they aren’t prepared to put enough effort into creating a dating app profile, they might not be in the right mindset for a long-term relationship.

5. They can suggest that someone isn’t genuine.

Beige flags can be a sign of someone who is trying to hide something or who is not being genuine. If someone’s profile is too generic, it can indicate that they are not being honest about who they really are. And that’s a huge warning sign for any online dater.

Overall, it’s important to remember that beige flags are not always an indication of a bad person. But they can be a sign that someone is not right for you and your dating goals.

The difficulties of creating an interesting dating profile

There are a number of reasons why people struggle to get their personality across on dating apps and end up with a profile full of beige flags. If it was easy to create an engaging dating app profile, beige flags, and this blog post, wouldn’t exist. Here are the top reasons why people struggle.

1. It can be hard to be original.

The main reason people struggle to get their personality across on dating apps is, quite simply, that it’s hard to be original. Creating an engaging dating app profile is an art, not a science, and not everybody has the skills to do this. There are dedicated dating app profile writers for that very reason.

2. Showing your true self requires vulnerability.

Revealing aspects of your authentic personality, online or offline, is brave and requires vulnerability. You’re putting your real self out there to find a partner, and that takes courage. Not everyone is prepared to share personal information out of fear of being rejected.

3. Some people struggle with self-awareness.

In particular, people who lack self-awareness can struggle when it comes to writing dating profiles because they can be unsure of what to say. They might not understand themselves well enough to know which of their personality traits to highlight. 

4. Writing isn’t everyone’s strong point.

Creating a dating app profile can be daunting for many people. Not everybody has good writing skills and can’t express themselves in words as easily as others. A good profile should be well-written, interesting, and engaging.

Bored on phone

5. People don’t always have time.

For some people, creating a dating app profile can be difficult because they simply do not have the time. With such busy lives, some people not everyone is able to spend a lot of time crafting an engaging and original profile. But this also means that they aren’t prioritizing their search for a partner.

6. Not everyone has good photos of themselves.

Another reason people struggle to make an engaging dating app profile is simply that they don’t have enough photos of themselves. A great profile should have a selection of good photos but some people just don’t like having their photo taken, for one reason or another.

7. They are trying to be cool.

Some people might think that it pays to be cool and aloof when it comes to creating a dating profile. This kind of attitude can lead to a profile full of generic statements and beige flags. They might view humor or originality as cringe.

Overall, creating an interesting dating app profile can be challenging but it’s something that needs to be taken seriously if you’re looking for a meaningful and long-term relationship. If your profile has beige flags, it’s important to take the time to make it more engaging and reflective of your true self.

Finding the balance between sharing and oversharing

Making sure your dating app profile isn’t beige is more about getting across certain aspects of your personality rather than sharing your deepest, darkest secrets. In fact, it’s sometimes better to save the more serious conversations for an in-person conversation.  

You aren’t obligated to share every major personal detail about yourself on your dating app profile, but you do need to share parts of yourself. Creating a truly original dating app profile requires vulnerability, which is essential for building a connection. You’re putting yourself out there and risking rejection. 

It’s definitely possible to find a balance between not giving too much away and coming across as interesting.

Tips for avoiding beige flags

Here are our top tips for avoiding beige flags on your dating app profile.

1. Show your unique traits and interests.

To avoid coming across as beige, you’ll want to get across what makes you different. That’s the best way to stand out. Cute quirks are usually a good starting point to help you stand out from the crowd. In addition, you should mention your hobbies, interests, and passions.

2. Be real and authentic.

This is essential for a meaningful connection between two people. It’s easy to fall into the trap of creating a persona that you think people will like rather than revealing your true self. Authenticity is innately interesting, and it’s a great way to stand out.

Bored on phone

3. Use humor and wit.

Humor makes your profile more interesting, too, because it’s a universally attractive trait. Who doesn’t want to be with someone who makes them laugh? If you can put a smile on someone’s face before you’ve even talked to them, it’s a good sign.

4. Use other profiles for inspiration.

Getting inspiration from other people’s profiles is a good idea. Of course, you don’t want to copy them because that defeats the point of being original and interesting, but it can definitely help in terms of sparking your creativity and giving you ideas.

5. Don’t be afraid to take risks.

Taking risks is important when it comes to creating an original dating profile. Don’t be afraid to do something a bit different and step outside of your comfort zone. Doing something different is a great way to catch someone’s eye; you just want to make sure you’re getting attention for the right reasons.

6. Put in the time.

Creating an interesting and engaging dating app profile is a process that requires time and effort. But people are more likely to take your profile seriously if you’ve put in the effort to make it stand out. If you take the time to get it right, you’ll be rewarded with more matches and more meaningful connections.

7. Ask your friends.

Whatever stage of creating your profile you’re at, whether you’re right at the beginning or about to press go, your friends’ advice and responses can be valuable. It can be hard to be objective when you’re making a profile about yourself, and your friends can offer an outside perspective. 

Creating an interesting and engaging dating app profile is essential for anyone looking to find a meaningful and long-term relationship. By avoiding beige flags, you’ll be sure to stand out from the crowd and ensure your profile catches someone’s eye.

Final thoughts on beige flags on dating app profiles

So, if you’re one of those people who put minimal effort into their dating app profile, this post is for you. The quality of your dating app profile makes a huge difference.

Ultimately, if you want to snag yourself a date, it helps to stand out from the crowd on dating apps. So shake things up and make sure that your dating app profile is free of beige flags by getting creative and following our tips above. It’s time to make your dating app profile shine.

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