you’ve got the option to also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor.
In an emergency, call 911.
My experience on dating apps was a tale as old as time.
(It was definitely him.)
If my story sounds familiar, you must have used dating apps at some point.
Online dating is rarely a fairytale.
Of course, dating apps didn’t invent the risks that come with dating.
Though dating online comes with unavoidable risks, there are things you could do to help keep yourself safe.
Based on expert advice and tried-and-true experience, this is my guide to staying safe while swiping right.
Your first instinct might be to answer every prompt to get the most compatible matches.
But that could put you at risk.
Building in degrees of separation – and changing your social media accounts to private – helps secure you.
And it isn’t always a bad idea.
Because they store massive quantities of personal data, dating apps aretargets for cybercriminals.
Some of these platforms have also previously come under fire for theirhandling of user data.
There are many possible indicators that a given user of a dating app might be ascammer.
Security company Aura recommendstaking a closer lookat a user’s profile to avoid matching with a potential scammer.
If you might’t find them on social media or elsewhere online, that may also be a red flag.
Then they can present you with an investment scheme or financial scam.
Back on the dating app, they’ve likely already unmatched you, so you could’t report them.
Keeping your initial conversations on the app avoids this.
And just, never send money to someone you meet on a dating app.
This is particularly important when you’re meeting an online date in person for the first time.
Online dating is a team sport!
Ultimately, if a situation doesn’t feel right, it’s a sign to leave.
“Dating is fun.
It’s supposed to be a good thing,” said Berkowitz.
Trust your instincts."
