Staying Safe on Your First Date: Tips and Guidelines

12.06.2023

Internet dating safety tips advice. There are more and more people who prefer to get acquainted through the Internet every day. And no wonder it's simple, fast, and convenient. But with the active development of modern technology, the number of scammers in the network has also increased.

Therefore, regardless of whether the acquaintance takes place in the real world or the virtual one, it is necessary to be careful and observe safe dating practices. This does not mean that you should stop all communication with strangers, delete accounts on social networks or dating sites, and not even think about expanding your circle of acquaintances or starting new romantic relationships.

Remember that online dating can be a great way to expand your social circle and find new friends or romantic relationships. Just be careful and follow the safety rules to avoid unwanted situations and keep your safety and comfort.

Just follow these simple tips to keep yourself out of trouble.

Dating online safety tips

• Compliance with personal safety. When registering on a dating site, make sure that your personal data is protected. To do this, you need to create a new email address that does not contain your first and last name. When communicating online with a new acquaintance, do not rush to give your phone number or home address.

• Choose serious dating sites. If you want to date online safety and to protect yourself from the illegal transfer of your personal data to third parties or search engines, register only on serious sites that have already proven themselves well. Such sites treat their users and their personal data responsibly, preventing leakage or disclosure of personal information.

• Choose a secure password. Social networks, online dating, e-mail, online shopping - everywhere you need a password. If you are one of those people who use the same code for all occasions, try to fix it urgently. To increase the strength of your password, use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as a few numbers.

• Guidelines for safe dating say not to draw conclusions about a person based only on the information in his profile. A significant disadvantage in virtual dating is that a person who does not want to show his true face can impersonate anyone. After all, no one will check the authenticity of the information in the column "profession," "hobby," or "hometown." Perhaps the information that hooked you is indeed true, but you can find out only by talking a little. If, in the process of correspondence, you have any doubts, the person did not show his best side, or you even felt that they want to use you for personal gain, then immediately stop communicating. If you still continue receiving intrusive messages of unpleasant content or spam from a newly-made acquaintance, inform the site moderators by writing to the support service. They will understand the situation and take the necessary measures up to block a dubious profile.

• Safe dating practices. Someone wrote you a message, or you are interested in one of the profiles, and you want to take the initiative and be the first to write to the person you like. In such a situation, it is better to use the internal correspondence system on the site rather than personal e-mail. So, if communication ceases to be enjoyable, you can easily block a new friend, and he will forever lose the opportunity to contact you.

• Be aware of the insecurity of questionable links. In the process of communication, you and your interlocutor will learn more and more new things about each other. When exchanging impressions about some event with a person, he suddenly sends you a link to a site where, allegedly, the information you are interested in contains. Do not rush to open it right away. Remember that unfamiliar or distrustful links may indeed contain viruses that are dangerous for your computer.

• Asking for financial assistance is a reason to end communication. Any guidelines to ensure safety while dating should state this. Any request for financial assistance from a stranger should be suspicious. It is unlikely that a decent person will go to ask for money from strangers on the Internet, and even more so on a dating site, even if he really needs them. Don't believe in heartbreaking stories, and don't let yourself be fooled. After all, you are not earning money for the same reason: to distribute it to scammers and swindlers.

• Don't let yourself be pressured. You have only known each other for a few days, and the person is already asking for a visit, referring to the fact that he lives or works somewhere nearby and sees no point in delaying virtual communication when it can easily be transferred to real life. Remember that you should agree to such a step only after you yourself are ready for it. And do not be afraid that after your refusal, the potentially chosen one will immediately evaporate - it means that his intentions were not so serious. But even if you are also interested in seeing “live,” it is better to choose neutral territory for the meeting and not your own apartment.

• Be careful on the first date. No matter how inviting a person is, remember that while you know him little, and therefore it is better to play it safe. On a first date, go to a crowded place, having previously warned your family or one of your friends where and with whom you will go. Do not abuse alcohol or take questionable substances that a new acquaintance offers you. Also, do not take a large amount of money with you or show off to your friend how well you earn. If he (she) himself is persistently interested in the size of your salary or what you can afford, this should be a wake-up call for you.

• Personal safety is one of the most important online dating safety advice. To protect yourself from the unwanted release of your personal information, you need to maintain the confidentiality of your profile and the data that you provide. You, like an undercover agent, can hide personal data when registering in applications and on online dating sites. For example, create a new email that does not include your real name. It is not necessary to falsify literally everything. To be safe, just don't show all your cards at once. Real surname, phone number, street, and house number - is not the most important thing you need to get to know your future partner, in contrast to meeting a scammer online. Read about what you can find out about yourself by your phone number.

• Delete your account. If you found someone you were looking for or changed your mind about looking for love on the Internet, delete your account, not the application. By deleting the application or leaving the site, your profile remains on public display for some time without your knowledge. To prevent this from happening, do not forget to delete your page. In some applications, you can “freeze” your profile while you are away. This may appeal to those who have not decided whether to look for a soul mate through the application now or later. Keep your personal details private. Never give out your real address, phone number, or other confidential information until you are sure that your new acquaintance is trustworthy. If you need to provide your contact details, do so only when you are absolutely sure it is safe. Also, do not trust those trying to establish close contact with you too quickly. Fraudsters may use emotional manipulation to gain access to your personal information or money.

Once you understand what is safe dating, you can safely register on dating sites and look for your soul mate. But even if you are careful and follow all the dating site safety tips, you cannot be completely sure that you will not be deceived. But still, these simple tips will help minimize the risk and bring the liar to clean water in time.

You can start with friendship on the GoDateNow website, and who knows, maybe this is where you will find a friend who will later become your partner. In the Girls online gallery section, you can look for friends with whom you can have a good time or just chat. Learn more about love and how to find it at Our Dating Blog.