How do we have a safe date via a dating site or app? The pandemic has been devastating for singles’ dating lives. Cozy dates in the pub suddenly turned into video chats and loneliness has never been felt as hard as during the lockdowns.
Many people lacked the sense of belonging and social support, so there was often only one thing left to do: online dating.
Tips for a safe date via a dating site or app
If you still find it a bit exciting to open up yourself via a dating site or dating app, then you might find these tips useful.
Set up your profile
Use real photos of yourself, but choose photos that don’t give away unnecessary information, such as your address, employer, etc.
Choose photos from travel or at points of interest, with no personal information and no other people.
Remember that someone can use the photos you post to find your social networks, so opt for photos that don’t appear anywhere else.
Whether you use a pseudonym or your real name, do not reveal your full name and surname. However, keep in mind that using a nickname can cause confusion.
Do not connect your Instagram account (or other social media) to the profile of the dating app. As a result, you are giving away too much potentially useful information about yourself.
Even if you’ve already set up your Instagram for enhanced privacy and security, the risk is higher if you link both accounts together.
Avoid sharing information
Even if you used to be adamant about anti-dating apps, you too may have found your way into the swiping life. It is simply not that easy to meet new people in corona time.
Recent research by dating app Inner Circle has shown that covid has had a negative impact on dating life in more than 70 (!) percent of singles. And 90 percent of singles even found dating weird, challenging, or pointless.
Another survey by the Belgian Flair showed that 1 in 3 singles has chosen to put dating on pause during the corona crisis. One of the reasons for this would be that people don’t feel safe online.
They are afraid to share information because unfortunately there are also malicious people who target hopeful internet daters. And fortunately, there are several ways to increase your safety during a (first) date.
What should you do while chatting?
Trust your gut at all times: if something doesn’t feel right, listen to it.
Do not give contact details too quickly, such as your telephone number or (e-mail) address.
Wait with this until you really have the confidence that it is all right. Until then, just use the dating site or app’s correspondence system, even if that might be a bit more inconvenient.
Remember you are talking to a stranger. It may be that that person becomes the love of your life, but for now, it is a stranger, so unfortunately you have to take into account the possible dangers (think of doxing and stalking ).
Annoying situations like this can start with giving personal information to the wrong person, so don’t give out private details too quickly.
Does someone want to meet you and are you still a little nervous? To call first, or to video call. The latter is even better because then you can (literally) see what kind of meat you have in the tub.
Never send money or share your financial information when asked, even if you’ve been talking to the person for weeks. If someone – for whatever reason – asks to send money, please report it by reporting their profile.
Also read: 10 Smart ways to flirt on WhatsApp
Some recommendations for the (first) date
Meet in a public space, so not at your home, at the other person’s home, or in another place that is not public. Besides not being safe, it can also create wrong expectations.
If you find meeting one-on-one still a bit too exciting, even if it is in a public place, then opt for a group activity for your first date.
Make sure at least one person close to you knows you’re dating a stranger. Tell me where you are going, with whom, and as many other details as possible. And in line with this: share your location with others – via Whatsapp, Google Maps, or a special app such as Life360, Find My Friends, or bSafe.
Go to the date with your own transport. In other words: do not get in the car with a relatively unknown person, and make sure that you are not dependent on the other person for transport home.
Be careful with booze. That is, watch your drink and don’t drink too much.
Are you afraid of contamination? Then meet in the outdoors, try to keep one and a half meters away, and check if your date is vaccinated. Most apps (such as Inner Circle, Tinder, and Bumble) have a Vaccine Badge or vaccination status so that at least there can be no misunderstandings about this.
Recommendation: how to trigger your confidence for going out alone
Hopefully, these tips can help you gain a safe date via a dating site or app, you can start dating again with a peace of mind.
And let’s hope we can start dancing and dancing in real life again soon because that’s still the best thing. For now: good luck!
