While modern sites do provide security, there are things technology cannot address. Whether it’s professional fraudsters or someone who you’ve crossed the path, staying secure is your number one priority. From social media platforms to dating websites, chances are, these online dating safety tips will help you communicate with strangers safely. Thus, without any further delay, on to the tips.
Is online dating safe?
Many of you ask us “is online dating safe” and our answer is quite simple. Depending on the person. There are many safe dating sites out there. They’ve come a long way since their initial inception. Today, most of your data is protected and chances that your credit card information will be stolen is equal to none. But even so, there are things that cannot be protected by technology. And that is the way you perceive information.
Some people have this gut feeling that tells them about incoming danger, others are more naive and take things for face value. In any case, whether you are here because you have trouble dealing with scammers or reaffirm your suspicions, you’ve come to the right place. Anything can happen on the internet and the more you know about how to behave with these kinds of people, the better.
1. Don’t give out too much personal info upfront
The number one online dating safety rule is to not give too much personal information. The less info you provide about yourself, the less likely you will be scammed. However, how can you meet new people if you aren’t willing to share your story? Simple, you provide just enough information for the story to be clear and cut all the personal stuff. That way, you will still communicate with the person and feel much safer than when you would dish out all the details. We usually advise people to think about how they would behave in a real-life situation. You don’t tell random people at the bar where you live, right? The same goes for online dating.
2. Do your research
Another important moment of safe dating online is that you should first try to learn about the person using common third-party resources. And by third-party, we mean social media platforms, forum posts, and even typing their names in the search engine. This might seem like predatory behavior, but you never know what’s coming. Try and learn as much as possible about the person elsewhere. And if that is not possible, try to talk to them about a topic that you’ve previously discussed, if the facts line up, the person is probably honest and there’s nothing to worry about.
3. Safety guidelines
Another thing that is commonly neglected by online dating users is safety guidelines. They are there for you to teach you how to protect your information, identity, and frankly, your life. You’d be surprised how many online dating safety tips you will find there. These guidelines are typically written by professionals that know and understand their job unlike any other. Besides, safety guidelines are typically personalized to the website they are posted. In other words, they might include info on how to protect yourself in parts of the website other safety tips might not even include.
4. Go Slow
This one might seem small and irrelevant but it is, for a fact, one of the most effective online safe dating tips to date. Not rushing things is your number one priority when meeting strangers online. Typically, most sexual predators have a short temper and they lose interest quickly. The more time you take to learn the person, the more likely they will be to just quit or reveal their true identity. Also, this is where tip number two will come in handy. Advance things slowly, reveal information at your own pace and stay vigilant at all times.
5. Be careful what sites you use
Now, every time we hear how safe is online dating we immediately ask what kind of site they would like to use. There are places that are not as protected as you might think. The most common way to learn whether the site is protected or not is by looking at the address of the website. If it uses the now outdated HTTP protocol, then it’s probably not safe there. On the contrary, if it adopts the HTTPS protocol, it means that the connection is secure and there’s nothing to worry about. But this is far from over; it is best that you read an online review about the site and see if it has common safety standards such as SSL is in place. If not, we suggest that you find an alternative.
6.Have a backup plan
This one is very important and sometimes even vital. Always, at all times, have a backup plan. In case you get yourself in trouble, having a retreat plan will not only help you escape danger but will completely eliminate the panic that will come with the danger. Keeping it calm is your number one priority. Some common backup plans typically involve a phone call, a visit to the bathroom, or even a pepper spray. You never know what kind of person you might encounter and you will surely have a hard time working out without a plan.
7. Meet Up In A Public Place
Another safety tip is to meet in an open space where a lot of people are present. Most maniacs are afraid of publicity and will surely think twice before doing something radical. Sitting in a crowded place puts you in a spot where the potential predator is immobilized but you have full control of the situation. Remember, never go on a date to a place if you have no idea where it is, or if it is lonely there. It might be a trap!
8. Don’t Give Your Full Name
This goes without saying. If someone asks your name, you say Suzie, Kelly, Monna, whatever you wanna tell them but not your last name. This way your identity is safe, as well as it will make sure that you aren’t “searchable” online. In case the person asks you your full name, we suggest that you tell them something false and try to escape the date. Why would they ask your full name on a first date? Is this a job interview? Probably not.
9. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
It’s in the title. If things are too good to be true, they probably are. You see, people like to create online personas that aren’t exactly real. Whether he says he’s a well-known business owner or someone who works in an industry of your dream, we suggest that you take things skeptically and think about it twice. It doesn’t matter if they insist that you join their yacht cruise or they claim to have multi-billion devices, ask questions. If the person is defensive, then you might actually on to something.
Final Notes
And there you have it. We hope our safety tips will be useful to you. There are lots of things we could have talked about more but perhaps we’ll leave them for another time. For now, that’s all we have. Be sure to visit our blog again as every week we cover all kinds of dating topics.
Our Editorial Team at DoULike understands the challenges of today’s dating scene. That’s why we offer guidance on everything from online profiles to in-person chemistry. With our tips, you’ll feel ready to take the next step in finding love.
