Mark Greene
Online Dating Privacy
If you’re single and looking for love, then you are probably no stranger to online dating. Dating websites and apps have become a very popular way to find a new partner these days with more people meeting their other half online compared to meeting in-person. However, as with any type of online communication, there are always some risks to be aware of since you can never be 100% sure of exactly who you are speaking to and what their real intentions are until you have had the chance to get to know them a little better. Follow these tips to stay safe when meeting new people online.
Know Who You’re Speaking To:
One of the main risks of online dating is that you can never be quite sure who you are speaking to until you get to meet them in person and learn more about them. So, it’s always a good idea to be wary whenever you start communicating with a new person online and try to find out as much as you can about them before deciding whether or not it’s a good idea to meet up. If you have their phone number, you can use Nuwber to find out more about them including whether or not they have any criminal records.
Keep Your Info Private:
Being selective about the information that you provide about yourself is important when dating online. You don’t want to put yourself in a potentially risky position by revealing information that could lead to somebody finding out where you live or where you work, for example. Keep your profile to general information that doesn’t reveal anything private. You can set your general location to make it easier to find matches in your area, but don’t make it easy for anybody to find you without your permission to meet.
Be Careful With Social Media:
Some dating apps like Tinder give you the option to link your Instagram so that potential matches can look through your posts and learn more about you. However, this is only a good idea if you are sure that you don’t post anything on Instagram that would reveal more about you than you want other dating site or app users to know. It’s a good idea to make all your social media profiles as private as possible so that if anybody does happen to find you, you’ll need to approve them as a friend or a follower before you share your posts with them.
Always Meet In Public:
Finally, the most important safety tip for online dating is to always meet in a public place. Meeting at somebody’s home can be very risky if the person isn’t quite who they say they are, and giving somebody your address to meet you means that they now know where you live – which might be risky. Instead, meet up somewhere that is quite busy like a restaurant or bar in a city center with lots of people around. You may also find it useful to share information about your date such as where you are going, who you are going with, and how long to expect to be with a trusted friend or relative so that they can step in to help if needed.
The good news is that for the most part, online dating is fun and safe – but you can never be sure who you’re speaking to, so it’s important to keep these safety tips in mind.
