Online dating is the easiest way to fill your date card, with almost 40% of couples who say they’ve met online.
With the opportunity to meet so many new people, when you don’t have friends in common, how can you make sure that you’ll be dating safely?
On People, I weighed in with several tips on dating safety. Here’s a short excerpt. To read the full article, click here.
How do you know a potential date is real?
“I think one of the first red flags is about the photo,” Spira says. “If there are no photos, it’s a red flag. If there is only one photo, and they look like a hot model, it’s a red flag.”
In the “predate phase,” Spira tells her clients to use Facebook and Instagram accounts to find mutual friends.
If there are friends and followers in common, “You can then ask your friend if they really know this person to get a digital thumbs up or down before actually accepting a date,” Spira says.
What If They Won’t Meet IRL?
“The point of dating online is actually meeting in person,” Spira says. “It’s not to have a digital pen pal. So, if somebody is canceling or postponing and not making plans to meet IRL, it’s a real problem.”
Where Should You Meet For a First Date?
When it comes to scheduling a first date, you should always meet in a public place. Let a friend know who you’re meeting, and exactly when and where. If you feel uncomfortable for any reason, get up and leave.
There’s nothing more important than being safe on a date, and all of us in the dating industry take safety seriously. If you feel unsafe for any reason, it’s easy to report the person’s profile to the dating app.
At Cyber-Dating Expert, we put safety first. You can read our other safety articles here:
Julie Spira is America’s Top Online Dating Expert and the founder of Cyber-Dating Expert. Julie’s been coaching singles on finding love online for 25 years. Visit CyberDatingExpert.com for dating advice, and Follow @JulieSpira on Twitter and Instagram.
Julie Spira is America's Top Online Dating Expert. She's an award-winning dating coach who's been helping singles find love online for 25+ years. Follow @JulieSpira on IG.
