5 Things you Must Do to Ensure your Safety on Online Dating Apps

Gone are the days when a family member would fix a “rishta” meeting for you. Today, the way of searching for love has changed. Contrary to the olden days of “chai pe charcha”, all you have to do today is to simply ‘swipe right’, and you meet the love of your life. Confused? Well, this is the world of online dating. No matter where you are, you can interact with people from across the globe. It’s all fun and games until you realise you’ve connected with a creep on your first date. As much as online dating is an exhilarating experience, it can be a threat to your personal safety.

Though dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and so on are pretty safe from a technical standpoint, they still possess a certain amount of risk.

Did you know? The number of people who use dating apps is all set to increase to 53 million by 2024. Despite its growing popularity, they do pose a few risks including stalking, online harassment, digital abuse, identity theft and other scams.

Before we break down the safety measures you must ensure for your own good, let’s look at a few reasons why people these days use dating apps. Beyond “hook-ups”, people use dating apps to find sexual partners, build friendships, self-validation and entertainment.

Online Dating App Safety Tips

• Choose your profile picture strategically

When you create a dating app profile, it can be pretty tempting to share the best version of yourself online. As far as possible, don’t use the same picture you’ve used on all your social media profiles. This makes it easier for a virtual stranger to perform an image search online. Also, make sure the image does not reveal any information about your whereabouts or location. These little things make it easier to access personal information. Additionally, don’t use your Facebook or Instagram account to sign-in. In case you do so, you might end up divulging way too many details to a stranger which you don’t really want. Remember to protect your identity in the process

• Watch out for red flags

Love is blind but in an online relationship, keep your eyes wide open. It’s pretty easy for someone to misrepresent themselves online. Who knows if you’ve connected with a scammer, predator or anyone else who is looking to manipulate you. Here are a few red flags you must watch out for:

• Behaves overly romantic in the initial conversation
• Messages appear to be automated
• Pressurises you to divulge personal details (phone number, address etc.)
• Answers questions vaguely
• If they disappear and then reappear without a proper explanation
• Inappropriate language or messages
• Threats
• Fake profile

Besides the above-mentioned red flags, if there is something else that makes you feel that the person’s identity is fishy, stop chatting right away.

• Stay inside the app

When you match someone, as far as possible, speak to them on the app. Even if you’ve known each other for a month, it’s best and safest to stay inside the app. At first, it might seem a bit inconvenient. However, think about the long run. If things don’t end up working out at least you will feel relieved that the person doesn’t have your mobile number. Another advantage of speaking to your potential date on the app is that it gives you an extra layer of protection. For example, certain messaging systems don’t allow the sharing of photos or links. This can considerably reduce the number of unwanted photos you might get.

• Block anyone who misbehaves and report any kind of suspicious behaviour

Unlike a traditional meet-up, a major advantage of a dating app is that you can easily ignore or block someone you don’t want to talk to or someone you’re uncomfortable speaking with. Keep in mind, not everybody on the app is looking for love. Sometimes, certain scammers and predators are just looking to pass their time. And, these are the people who might even have bad intentions. They sign-up, charm you and believe they can get their way around. In the quest of doing this, they might even end up asking for financial assistance, obscene photographs or may even do things that threaten your safety. If at any time you feel like a particular user’s profile is dangerous or suspicious, immediately hit the block or report button. The person on the receiving end won’t know you’ve blocked them.

• Connect over a video call

If it’s been a few months and you want to get to know the person better, ask if they would be comfortable connecting over a video call. This is the real test. If the user is hiding their identity or is suspicious, they will act hesitant. Before meeting you in person, they should have no problem connecting with you virtually.

A video call has two advantages – firstly, it can make both of you feel more present in the situation and can spark an emotional connection. You might even feel a certain physical attraction. Secondly, talking with a person in real-time gives you a deeper understanding of who they say they are. You will be in a better position to gauge.

If things on the video call go as planned, you can probably plan a low-risk date such as meeting at a coffee shop, going to the park or watching a movie together.

Conclusion

Don’t let anything mentioned in this blog scare you. We’re not saying that dating apps are bad. What we’re trying to convey through this piece is that one must always stay cautious when they’re interacting with someone on an online dating app. Your first date could either be your soulmate or your worst nightmare. Tread carefully and ensure safety at all times.