Get her number when she says she prefers to keep social media separate

This boundary is not about you. It's about her. She might have exes stalking her Instagram, or coworkers she doesn't want seeing her dating profile, or she just doesn't like mixing contexts. Some people are private online and open in person. Others have been burned before.

The signal here is that she's still talking to you. She hasn't unmatched. She's just drawing a line around one specific thing. That means she's interested enough to set a boundary instead of ghosting. People only set boundaries with people they might actually meet.

You need to do two things in one message. First, show you understand and respect what she said. Don't argue it or ask for an exception. Second, propose the actual channel you need to stay in touch. That's usually texting or a call. Most conversations that lead to dates happen over text anyway, not DMs.

Keep it light and practical. No lengthy explanations about why she's right to protect her privacy. Just acknowledge it, agree, and move on to the next step. This shows you listen and that you're focused on meeting up, not collecting her social media.

Reply to her message while the conversation is still warm. Don't wait a day. This works best when momentum is already there. Once you've suggested text or a call, she'll either give you her number or won't. If she doesn't volunteer it in the next message or two, you can ask directly: "What's the best number to reach you?"

If she goes silent after you propose texting, wait three days before sending another message. If nothing comes back after that, move on. Some people set boundaries because they're not actually interested in continuing. The boundary itself isn't the problem. Her silence after the boundary is.