>>40733959
I have the opposite problem in that a lot of my online friends make jokes about me still being single, despite them being in online relationships, and the difference between online/long distance relationships and irl ones is huge. and no amount of the former can prepare you for the latter

I also didn't start dating irl or at all til I was 20, most I had before was some casual flirting with people online. I'll admit most of this was because until transitioning I just never had the confidence to do anything like that, but even in my first few months on hrt I was already seeing people and going on dates and getting laid, and t4t sex is amazing

anyways, I was young, and you are young. not having been in a relationship at 20 is kinda nothing. dating as a teenager genuinely sucks and its honestly not the worst you avoided it. I guess my best advice would be to get out there and be earnest with whomever you meet and tell them you have little to no experience dating, and hope they're okay with and can accommodate that, and if not, try moving on because if that's a problem then they aren't for you

I've had decent luck with dating apps, as well as sites like tagmap and more recently wplace (though I've not met anyone from there at all yet), as well as just meeting friends of friends (dating app trannies can get around a good bit and are often only a degree or two away from eachother) so just try stuff like that. or go to in person queer events or gay bars or whatever else, I don't like drinking so I can't speak much on that last one.

the easy thing to remember though is most people are just as desperate for friends and irl connection as you are, be it a relationship or just making friends. just make sure dating isn't your *only* goal here, and don't be afraid to reverse it either, I have plenty of good friends now whom I met because I was interested in them and we went out together, its honestly a great way to get to know somebody, even just as a friend