Important online dating safety tips every woman should know - Delicia Warren

By Roger Ogle - 1 September 2016

Opinion and FeaturesHealth and Beauty

Thanks to new platforms – including apps and websites – online dating is now more fun than ever.

You can meet new people in your area, limit your search based on criteria and do so much more on online dating platforms than you can in person. It is even possible to date and meet people while on holiday or be as specific as you can be about who you’re interested in.

However, just because online dating is now really easy, doesn’t mean you should be careless about it. Safety is still an important aspect to consider, especially if you’re a woman looking to meet guys. These next few safety tips will help keep your online dating experience as safe as they can be.

The best way to attract others is by posting interesting information about yourself on your dating profile. Add a couple of cute pictures and you’re all set. Online dating is generally easier for women because men are used to making the first step. Before you know it, you’ll start getting messages and likes.

The one thing you need to avoid in order to keep the dating experience safe is sharing your personal information. Your address, personal phone number and even email address should never be visible on your profile. In fact, you should never share these details online, even when you have had a lot of conversations with the person on the other end of the line.

There is a set of rules I always follow when meeting a person from online dating sites or apps for the first time:

·       Always meet for lunch. It is easy to end the date should you have to. You can excuse yourself by saying you have other meetings to attend or you need to get back to work.

·       Public places such as a restaurant or a coffee shop are perfect. Pick a place you’re familiar with for maximum safety. It is much better when the servers of the restaurant or coffee shop knew you as well.

·       Always split the bill!

·       Never promise a second date unless you’re 100% comfortable with the first one.

Don’t forget the first online dating safety tip we discussed earlier too. Don’t share your personal phone number or email address unless you are absolutely certain you are comfortable with the guy.

Online dating is still very similar to old-school dating, so things can get pretty awkward, pretty fast. It is also not something you want to rush into. If you don’t feel like you should meet the guy you’ve been chatting with for a couple of weeks, there is no reason why you should give in to his pressure to meet. You have complete control over how the dating experience goes, including the pace you’re comfortable with.

It is really important to stay safe, even when your goal is just to have a bit of fun. Use these tips to help you stay on the safe side of online dating and you’ll have a wonderful experience meeting new people online.

Don’t forget the first online dating safety tip we discussed earlier too. Don’t share your personal phone number or email address unless you are absolutely certain you are comfortable with the guy.

Delicia Warren is a freelance writer with a particular interest in the environment, but will write about anything that piques her interest

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