Online dating safety tips

There’s nothing wrong with exploring your options by dating online. However, it’s important to prioritise your safety by taking the necessary precautions. Here’s more.

Don’t reveal too much

While getting to know the person you’re chatting with online, it’s important to not give them too much information about yourself. Try to keep things like your address, info about your family members, school or work private to protect your safety.

Do your research

Go through your potential bae’s social media pages to look out for anything that doesn’t add up and to get a better sense of who they are. Things to look out for include not having any social media (this is very sketchy), private profiles that they won’t let you follow and not having any photographs of themselves on their social media. You can also look up their picture and name to see if anything strange comes up. Use the Internet to your advantage!

Don’t rush things

Sometimes you can meet someone online that you instantly click and connect with. It’s okay to enjoy this, but try not to rush into anything. Don’t rush meeting up or exchanging details. You should also be skeptical of anyone who tries to rush you into anything – take your time and be as careful as possible. Speak to them over video call so you get a better sense of who they are and make sure you’re not being ‘catfished’.

Meet up in a public place

When you’ve spent enough time getting to know your online date and think that you’re ready to meet up, make sure that it’s in a public place, during the day. It’s also good to let a loved one know exactly where you’ll be meeting and use public transport to get there.

Don’t be afraid to block suspicious characters

While online dating can be fun, there’s a huge chance that you’ll come across some shady characters. If someone’s profile looks suspicious or the info they give you doesn’t add up, then it’s important to block them for your safety.

Dating online allows you to meet people from all sorts of backgrounds, but sadly, this is not always a good thing. Use these steps to prioritise your safety and always let a loved one know who you’re talking to and where you’re going.

Remember if you or a friend need advice or help, you can contact me here on Ask Choma, send me a Facebook Message, a Twitter DM, or a WhatsApp Message (071 172 3657).