Online Dating Safety Advice for First Time Users [infographic]
By Home Security Source Feb 09, 2012 | 11:00:00 amPosted in: Personal Safety It’s 2012 and a lot of people (5.5 million single Americans to be exact) are turning to online dating services to search for their soul mate. One in five singles have dated someone they met online and about 1/3 of those individuals have ended up in happy relationships (while another third have not so much). With online dating being all the buzz, it’s important that you have a pleasant experience so you can have the same happiness and success as the 280,000 people who got married last year after meeting online. We’ve compiled a list of online dating tips for those searching for new relationships that steers you in the right direction, from choosing the right websites to online dating tips and tricks.
Online Dating Safety Essentials
Be Smart With the Online Dating Sites You Choose
Do your research and make sure you’re using a secure dating website before posting information regarding your relationships status. With over 800+ online dating services and related sites in the USA, you’re bound to come across some suspicious looking ones on your search. Play it smart and stray away from posting and responding to websites that don’t seem to have that extra level of security in place.
Be Selective With the Information You Place on Your Profile
You don’t have control over who views your dating profile so don’t list personal social networks such as Facebook and Twitter in your description. 25% of registered social network users post sensitive personal data about themselves online. When signing up for your account, make sure to use a different username that is different to retain as much privacy as you can. The more specific information you use, the easier it is for other users to search for you in search engines.
Don’t Respond to Everyone
Unfortunately, not every person that uses an online dating site is trustworthy. 1 in 10 accounts on free online dating sites are spammers, ‘bots or scam artists. Go with your instinct. If somebody is being too aggressive, or seem to be sending one too many messages, just “block” them.
Prepare a Back-up Plan for First Dates
If you’ve never met your online date in-person before, there’s the chance they’re just not who they seemed to be (or maybe they used a false profile picture – 81% of daters misrepresent themselves online). Make sure you have a way of signaling to a friend via text that it’s time for them bail you out. Remember to be polite – if you don’t plan on seeing this person again, it’s best to end it on a happy note.
Don’t Give Away Too Much Too Early
No matter how comfortable you feel with somebody you just met, be cautious on giving away too much information too soon. If you know that your date loves zombies and tattoos, that’s great – just stick with that. 24% of Americans say they are not at all confident in their ability to maintain privacy so don’t go in to detail about how well your stocks are doing or the recent million dollars you received from a long lost relative overseas.
What are some of your online dating tips that you’ve learned along the way?
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