When it comes to online dating, there are varying beliefs about what is okay. There are many people who think online dating is the best invention ever. However, there are many people who are highly skeptical or dismissive of the concept. Truthfully, it’s up to you to decide whether or not you’d like to utilize the apps of the online dating world. However, it’s essential to practice safety precautions. Consider these tips to help you remain safe.
1. Always tell someone where you are
If you decide to partake in online dating, it’s best to let someone know. Since you’ve already decided to do it, you don’t want to confide in the friend that’s going to discourage you. Instead, tell the friend that will keep you accountable. You can call this friend if things start to go south. If you have a tracker in your phone, this is the person that will stay on top of making sure you’re okay. Go here and find out the alternatives of online dating.
2. Keep certain details offline
While you want to share certain details about yourself online, use discretion. It might not be a great idea to share the exact city of neighborhood you live in. If you plan on traveling, don’t post the photos until you get back. Don’t share your real phone number. Focus on communicating through the app. If things go wrong, you don’t want to attract a new jilted lover who turns into a stalker. As you take this precaution on your online dating apps, apply the same tips to your social media pages. If a person can go to Facebook and find out where you live, you’ve made their job easy.
3. Meet in a public environment
Always make sure that you find a public place to meet. Make sure that it’s an area that receives a lot of foot traffic. You don’t want to be in a position where you’re stranded alone. Because you don’t know this person, it’s really not a good idea for them to pick you up for the date. If you live in a city like D.C. or New York that has a strong public transportation system, you can park your car at the station and use public transportation into the city for your date. This option can help you appear more incognito and protected from a potentially bad date.
4. Do your research
When you’re utilizing online dating, it’s also wise to make sure your online research goes hand in hand. Look up their public court records. This type of information is available to the public. Make sure the person’s name and profile picture really belong to them.
5. Be confident enough to say no.
Don’t be afraid to say no when you’re uncomfortable or not interested. Never be rude. However, you can assert yourself when something isn’t sitting well with you. A respectful date will understand and move on.
When you’re confronted with a question regarding the safety of online dating, the answer is simple. It all depends on you. It can be the safest and most secure way to interact with total strangers. It can also be a nightmare. It all depends on whether or not you govern yourself correctly and take the right precautions.
What do you think?