Personally, I become very uncomfortable when somebody tries to take a casual online acquaintance into romantic territory with little to no warning.

This doesn't happen to me constantly, but it happens on a limited regular basis, and I never quite know what to do about it.

I feel blindsided most of the time, and stressed.

I mean, to me, that sort of thing should wait until a true friendship forms first. When somebody I really don't know makes a move like that, I feel like I've been put on the spot. Like I have a responsibility to make a decision and then to justify it, possibly to quite negative result.

Just a couple weeks ago, I responded to a proposition by asking the person why my presence on social media made them think that I was open to a romantic advance.

In retrospect, I realize that probably sounded hostile or unkind, but in the moment, it was the only thing I could think of to say. I barely knew them, wasn't particularly physically attracted to them (at least as a stranger), and didn't want to be forced to have a complex interpersonal exchange with them.

They ended up blocking me, even though I didn't say what I really thought, which is that they are not my "type" of preferred romantic partner.

The thing is, that could have changed!

I've had lovely relationships with people I wasn't initially physically attracted to. Becoming friends with somebody can change the whole ball game for me.

So I know I'm not directly answering the question you're asking, but ...

I still think some folks need to just chill and focus on creating a genuine connection before going further.