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| Online Dating Safety Tips |
Although online dating services provide a fun and effective way to meet other people and possibly the love of your life, because of the global, open and unrestricted nature of the internet, you must take certain precautions when first communicating with others online. The following are some of the safety tips you should consider when it comes to online dating: |
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- Do not reveal identifying information about yourself.
It is always a good idea to keep your personal information private from the general public and only reveal it to those you can trust. For this reason, do not include in your personal profile, chat discussions or initial emails information such as your last name, phone number, or home address. Look for dating services that allow you to contact other members anonymously. If this is not available, open a new email account with yahoo, hotmail or google so you can have an email address that you can use exclusively when contacting new people.
- Be cautious and use common sense.
Take your time to get to know a person you are communicating with online. Some people, for fun or ill intentionally, may pretend to be someone they are not. Watch out for inconsistencies, lies or other clues that may give them away. To this end, communicate exclusively and anonymously by email and through chat rooms for a while until you feel you can truly trust the person enough to meet in person.
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- Ask for photos.
Being able to see more than one photo of the person you are contacting may allow you to confirm that they are giving you their actual photos and not someone else's. In addition, they will provide you with a better feeling about their personality and help you determine if there will be 'chemistry' or physical attraction between the two of you. |
- About your first meeting.
Once you decide to meet with the person you've been communication with online, take precautions no matter how much you feel you can trust the person, especially if you are a woman and will be meeting a man for the first time. Arrange to meet in a public place such as a coffeehouse or any other place you are familiar with where there are plenty of people around. If possible, bring a friend along. If you go alone, tell people you know where you are going and what time you expect to be back. Provide your own transportation and bring your cell phone with you. If you notice any strange or suspicious behavior on your date or you don't feel comfortable for any reason, provide an excuse and leave. Your own safety should be your top priority.
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