Today, as many as one-in-three people use online dating to meet potential partners. It is a great way to expand your dating pool, and the 24/7 connectivity of dating apps provides flexibility for communication. However, this increased access to people and information also means that users need to become more informed on how to stay safe on these platforms. This article provides a list of some dating safety tips for both your online and offline activities. 

ONLINE SAFETY

Protect Your Privacy 

In a world where most internet users are comfortable sharing much of their lives online via social media, it is important to stay vigilant when sharing personal information with people you have just met online. Surveys done by cybersecurity company, Kapersky Lab show that 25% of people share their full name publicly on their dating profile, while 10% have shared their home address online. Furthermore, 10% of online dating users have admitted to sharing naked photos of themselves. Since you can never be sure of who you are sharing this information with, these practices may expose you to many risks. 

You may also be cautious of sharing your real phone number with your match for fear of harassment down the road. This is a valid safety concern when you and your match have reached the stage where you may want to call. The solution, according to eFlirt dating coach Laurie Davis, is to set up a Google Voice number. By downloading this Google app, you can claim a separate phone number to give to your date, but the app makes it easier to block them if you need to in the future. 

Keep it “Professional” 

If you have a job you are proud of, it stands to reason that you would want to share this aspect of your life with your match, if even just to spur conversation and get to know each other better. However, it may be best to keep the information of where you work a secret in the beginning. While it may seem like a movie cliché, one of the worst things that could happen is if a date shows up at your office unexpectedly. Not only is that embarrassing, but it does not reflect well on your professionalism at work! 

Do Not Send Money 

We have all received emails or texts from scammers before, asking for money to invest in their business or citing an emergency. Dating apps are yet another platform where these scams can occur. So, as a rule of thumb, you should never send money to your online matches. Another tip to remember is to never share financial information either. That could be your credit card information, banking information etc. While this may seem to be common sense, these “romance scams” prey on the emotional connection between the scammer and the victim, thus it is vital to remember that though you may think you know who is on the other side of the screen, you really don’t! 

Report Suspicious/Offensive Behaviour 

At Heartcade, we are committed to keeping you and your data safe. So, if you ever feel uncomfortable, harassed, or see behaviour that violates our terms of use, we want to be the first to know. Examples of such behaviour could be requesting for money or financial information, harassments or offensive messages, fake accounts, attempts to sell/advertise products, or if you suspect an underage user. Though our app has an imbedded process to address abuse and harassment claims, you can also contact us about any concerning behaviour by emailing hello@heartcade.co. 

IN-PERSON SAFETY

Do Your Research 

The transition from the online world to the real one can be exciting, but it also comes with new safety concerns. This is why it is important to do your due diligence and research the person you are meeting up with. Make sure you know their last name and run a quick Google search. Do they have a legitimate online presence? If so, what is it like? 

Also run a search on yourself. While this may seem silly, this will help you see what your date may already know about you, so that you won’t be caught unawares. 

Tell a Friend 

Before leaving for a date, tell a friend or family member the specifics of your date: the address of your date, your date’s name and dating profile, and an estimate of how long the date will be. Also be sure to establish a check-in time for when they can expect to hear from you. These are all safety measures that minimize risk if something were to happen on your date. 

Meet in Public 

One of the number one tips for first dates is to meet in a public place. Ideally, this should be somewhere that is well lit and busy. You should never meet in your own home, your date’s home, or any other private location. If you find that your date is pushing you to meet at a private location, do not hesitate to cancel the date. 

Do Not Carpool 

This follows the same logic as meeting in public. Your very first encounter with your date should be in a setting where there are other people around. If they offer you to carpool with them to your agreed upon date location, you should always decline. Instead, drive yourself or take public transportation. Being behind the wheel lowers the risk of being placed in a dangerous situation as you have full autonomy over where you go and a car provides you with the most effective way to leave a situation that may become uncomfortable.