12 SAFETY TIPS FOR OLINE DATING

Oh what fun it is trying to find love.  And if you’re wondering that was sarcastic or genuine, it’s written with a bit of both. There are some great people online, but the alarming fact is that 10% of sex offenders use dating apps to meet people (according to Statistic Brain).  That’s not to say that 10% of the people on dating apps are sex offenders, it’s that 10% of sex offenders have traded in their white van for smartphones to lure unsuspecting victims, I mean potential partners, I mean victims, into their basement.

There are so many dating Apps available these days, there are ones for hooking up and there are ones for those who want to commit.  There are ones for every age group and generation, from Gen Ys all the way to The Baby Boomers and beyond.  Apps specifically for adulterers and divorcees.  Want a sugar daddy or cougar?  You name it, it’s out there.  You just have to know what it is you’re looking for and navigate accordingly. No matter your objective in using any of these apps, ladies, gents, here are 12 simple tips to get you started with your online and physical safety.

1. If someone’s profile looks creepy or rapey, they probably are. Feel free to block them straight away. You’re not going to talk to the super creepy rapey murdery person at the bar who has been staring at you as though you’re their next meal, don’t talk to the equivalent online.
2. When the conversation gets weird and makes you uncomfortable, end it right then and there and block. You’re not going to talk to a random stranger about how he/she likes to gut cats and watch them slowly bleed out.  Block block block!
3. Flirting is fun, but don’t send any compromising photos, no private parts.  Come on, have you not learnt anything?  You’re not Kim Kardashian, being on a porn site isn’t going to make you millions, a superstar and role model for girls all around the world.  It’ll just be incredibly embarrassing and everlasting.
4. Don’t give out any personal information, keep all contact on a first name basis, and if you have to, spell it differently if you have a very distinctive name. Pretend you’re a secret agent and be Smart.
5. You do not owe any of these random strangers anything.  Oh wow, they spent $1.29 to chat with you, hey big spender!  Remember that blocking feature is your friend and enjoy the power it gives you to remove these people from your profile.  Creepers are always trolling.
6. If they’re contacting you from another country, be wary. More often than not, you are the financial fish that they’re trying to catch. Don’t be that desperate victim on the news who loses $200,000 to some Nigerian prince.  If you really want to give away your life’s savings, I’ll take it off your hands.
7. If there’s no profile photo, ask for one. In fact, ask for several, and if it looks like a professional photo, that’s because it is and most likely, they came from a model’s catalogue somewhere.  Ugos use fake photos?  No… that’s not something ugos would do.  Umm… yeah they would.
8. If you’re chatting a total “babe”, ask for an updated photo, like, one of them on the couch. Make sure that you’re actually talking to the person that they’re claiming to be.  And get a full body shot, angles are amazingly deceptive.  Let’s just say a “friend” ended up on a date with a totally unexpected body type and was shocked, but couldn’t get away.  We laughed.
9. Make sure that you both want the same things, be upfront.  Nothing worse than a getting a crazy stalker when you want a casual movie date.
10. Just because the app has matched you, it does not actually mean that you’re compatible. It’s a numbers game, sooner or later, you will get matched with everyone who is the sex and around the age bracket that you’ve selected who isn’t dead.
11. When it’s time to meet, chose somewhere neutral and public. Don’t go to a bar where someone can slip a roofy into your drink without you knowing.  Go to a coffee shop, and not your coffee shop, a random coffee shop of the female’s choosing. You need to be able to make a quick getaway if the person you’re meeting turns out to be rapey or murdery.  Make plans directly after with some friends, so you have an excuse to leave.  And that first encounter date shouldn’t be longer than an hour, that said, always use your own judgement.
12. It is better to be safe than sorry, always tell a friend who you are scheduled to meet and that person’s contact details.  If you’re meeting a man and he turns up with a friend, do not drink anything, just leave.  That’s basically a set-up from the Kidnapper 101 manual.

You must always remember that safety is your first priority, and the net is full of creeps and pretenders.  If you’re trying to find a genuine connection, chose your app appropriately, don’t go on tinder when you’re after a relationship, and when you’re after an affair, don’t go on RSVP.  The world is a small place, remember that, and most of us are googlable, easily so in fact.  With a few minor details, people are able to source your most personal information and online profile. Some of these measures may seem extreme, but it is always better to be safe than sorry.  With online dating, we tend to let our guards down more and because we’re chatting online for days/weeks/months, there is a false sense of security with someone who is ultimately a stranger. There are great people out there, but there are also a lot of bad ones.

Do you have any stories to share on your online dating experience?  We’d love to hear about it.