Tips for staying safe when dating online…
Online dating is no longer the taboo it once was. In fact it’s now more acceptable than meeting someone in a bar or nightclub. But whilst people feel that its now more acceptable that doesn’t mean that you should let your guard down when it comes to staying safe online.
Take it slow. So you’ve exchanged emails, spoken on the phone but you don’t have to rush out to meet someone in person. You’ll know when the right time to meet someone is so always trust your gut instinct.
Think about your online profile. Remember that you’re essentially sharing the contents of your dating profile with the world. Are the contents of your profile safe to share with strangers? Give your profile the once over and try to avoid sharing things like your daily routines, where you work, where you study anything that would identify you personally.
Be wary about sharing photos. You need to think carefully about the photos that you share online. Avoid photos that may show information such as where you work or where you live.
Think about using google voice instead of giving out your mobile number. Not only do you keep your phone number a secret until you’re ready to share it but it also saves any awkward moments when you’ve found a mate and still getting texts from previous dates.
Meet somewhere public. So this is the usual advice but when you’re ready to meet someone in person then make sure that you do it somewhere public. Despite what people may say online you can’t always be 100% sure that they’re who they say they are. Avoid somewhere you’re familiar with but not somewhere you go often, remember the rule of not sharing daily routines – you don’t want them showing up if you’re planning on blowing them off.
If things don’t go right, then end things straight away. Don’t feel obliged to stay on a date when you don’t think that things are right. Always remember to follow your gut instincts, if something feels off – leave. Also if you come across any abusive or strange users then remove them asap.
NEVER, EVER send money to anyone you meet online. You may think that its ok to send some cash to someone you’ve been talking too for a long while but it’s never ok.
Keep your personal information a secret. Sharing passwords, bank details or credit card information is a huge no, no. Even if it seems plausible (ie maybe they want to book some concert tickets and you want to pay your share) we’d still advise against doing this.
Stay sober. Wine is the perfect cure to ease those first time dating nerves but don’t go overboard.
Tell someone and remember to keep them posted.
But don’t let horror stories put you off, for every horror story there are thousands of positives.
