Wondering if Someone Likes You Online? 11 Important Signs to Watch Out For

Co-authored by Joshua Pompey

Last Updated: October 12, 2024 References

As long as you’re safe about it, meeting someone online can be a great way to start a new relationship. However, it’s not always easy to tell if someone likes you online. That being said, there are certain signs you can watch for that are a pretty good indication of whether or not your digital love interest is into you. We’ve compiled some of the best ones into this listicle. The next time you’re chatting, pay close attention to your interactions!

Things You Should Know

Look for classic online flirting techniques like lighthearted emojis, jokes, and compliments.
If they’re really interested in getting to know you, they’ll probably reply quickly and initiate the conversation often.
Notice if they talk about doing things together in real life—that’s a definite sign they’re interested!

1

They reply quickly.

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A fast response usually means they’re excited to hear from you. If they usually don’t take more than a few minutes to respond, it means they don’t want to make you wait for a response. It also shows that they’re eager to continue chatting with you!^{[1]
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- Keep in mind that everyone has things to do, like work, school, and other responsibilities. So, if the person you’re talking to online sometimes takes longer to respond, it’s totally normal, so dont worry.

2

They initiate conversation.

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You’re on their mind if they reach out first. If the other person initiates your chats as often as or more than you do, there’s a good chance they like you! If you seem to be the one who always starts the conversation, you might be more into them than they are into you.^{[2]
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- It’s an especially good sign if they send you a “good morning” text to start the day! That means you’re the first thing they think about in the day.
- If you’re usually the one who texts first, you can try testing the person by not messaging them when you usually do and see if they text you.

3

You spend all day messaging each other.

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They want to share every little moment with you if you’re talking all day. If this is the case, it’s a great sign that the other person likes you as much as you like them. It’s like they want to be spending the day with you in real life!^{[3]
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- The more mundane the messages seem, the better a sign of mutual interest they are. Someone wouldn’t text you about small things like their breakfast or their bus ride if they didn’t really like talking to you!

4

They tell you when they won’t be available.

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The person wants you to know that if they don’t reply, it doesn’t mean they’re ignoring you. They may be busy doing something, but you’re totally going to be on their mind the whole time!^{[4]
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5

They give you compliments.

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Check your messages to see if the person regularly compliments you. Compliments are a pretty obvious sign of attraction and interest. The more sweet and sincere the compliments seem, the more into you your online love interest probably is!^{[5]
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Pew Research Center
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- Try not to shrug off or ignore compliments, or they might think you don’t like them. Try saying thanks with a winky-face emoji to up the flirtiness of the conversation!

6

They’re interested in getting to know you.

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Pay attention to the questions the person asks you. If they ask you lots of questions about yourself and let you talk about yourself often, it’s a good sign. When someone genuinely likes you, they want to find out all about you to help them decide if you might really be a good match.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Katrina Georgiou
Career Coach

Expert Interview. 27 November 2019.}
- For example, they might be asking about your pet peeves, your favorite foods, and your hobbies.
- When you’re talking online with someone you’ve never met, be careful and never give them any personal information about where you live or anything else that’s private.^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  Katrina Georgiou
  Career Coach
  
  Expert Interview. 27 November 2019.}

7

They show they care about you.

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Do they ask how you’re doing or feeling regularly? If you’re having a bad day or experiencing some kind of problem, they should show genuine concern and caring for you. When someone is into you, a natural caring and protective instinct kicks in.^{[9]
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- Early on in your online interactions, simple messages like “How are you?” and “How was your day?” can show that the person cares about you.
- As you get to know each other, they might start asking about specific things going on in your life. For example, they might say something like “Hey, how did your meeting go today?” or “How was your test?”

8

They try to make you laugh.

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Laughter is an important part of any good relationship. If the person you’re talking to tells jokes, teases you, or tells funny stories, those are all forms of flirting! Most people know that humour is a quality people look for in a significant other and will try to make you laugh if they want to pursue a relationship.^{[10]
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- For example, maybe they tell you about funny or embarrassing things that happen to them throughout the day, like almost tripping in front of a bunch of people at work.

9

They use flirty emojis.

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Emojis are the equivalent of a wink, a blush, or a flirty smile in real life. If they’re using things like winky faces, flirty smiling faces, blushing faces, and smirking devil emojis, they’re definitely flirting with you! Using emojis in general also shows that the person is taking more time to compose their messages and make them more fun and interesting.^{[11]
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- If you’re not already sending emojis yourself, start sprinkling them into your messages and see if you can take the flirty talk to the next level!

10

They remember lots of things about you.

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People remember even the smallest things about those they care about. If they really like you, they should remember minor details and bring them up later in conversation. This shows they’re really paying attention when you talk and using previous information to keep the conversation going.^{[12]
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- For example, maybe they remember your daily coffee order, the name of your first pet, or your least favorite subject in school.

11

They talk about doing things with you in real life.

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Count it as a win when someone starts planning real life activities with you. That’s a definite sign that they’re interested enough in you to want to hang out in person. These types of messages make it pretty clear that they have a desire to take your online relationship offline and to the next level!^{[13]
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Expert Source

Katrina Georgiou
Career Coach

Expert Interview. 27 November 2019.}^{[14]
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- For example, watch for messages like “We’d have so much fun if I was there right now!” or “It’s so nice out, I wish we could go for a walk together right now.”
- It's really flattering to have someone interested in meeting you in real life, but pay attention to red flags—if your instincts are telling you that something is off, don't meet them. Also, even if everything seems fine, it's a good idea to meet in a public place instead of having them pick you up at your home or work.^{[15]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Katrina Georgiou
  Career Coach
  
  Expert Interview. 27 November 2019.}