What’s Your Dating Safety Plan? A Manual to Online Dating Safety Tips
CONTENT WARNING: This article briefly mentions rape and sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.
*****
Are you thinking about dating someone new? Whether you’ve met your date in-person or are browsing dating sites and apps for someone, dating safely is incredibly important, regardless of who you are. From the moment you match with someone online or decide on making it ‘official’ with them in a new relationship, we hope you consider everything involved in safe dating.
Unsure where to start or of all the things that you should be thinking about? Here are our top off- and online dating safety tips.
Be clear about your expectations from the get-go
When dating someone new, let there be no excuses that they didn’t know your true intentions before meeting up. Online, if not writing a dating profile specifically outlining your goals to potential dates, then let them know early on into your conversations. If you’ve met in person, it’s also a good idea to inform them of what you’re looking for prior to going on an official first date.
Before meeting in-person, meet over a video call
First dates can sometimes feel intimidating. To get a better idea of what to expect from your date (and to ensure that they’re not a catfish, pretending to be someone they are not), suggest you jump onto a video call before making plans to meet in-person. If they don’t want to, this is a big red flag!
Tell a trusted friend where you’re going
When you feel comfortable and ready to meet with someone face-to-face, don’t do so without letting a trusted person know exactly where you are. Should the location change, update your person.
If meeting with someone you met online, send over screenshots of their profile and as much information as possible (including their phone number, if you have it).
Never give out personal information
One of our main rules for safe dating is to never give a potential date any personal information, especially before meeting in-person. This includes your phone number, address, place of work, names of friends and family members, and even your last name.
Provide your own transportation
Never rely on the person you’re meeting with to get you to and from the date. Use your vehicle, public transit, or have a friend drop you off and pick you up; never get into someone else’s car when exploring a potential new relationship. This includes when you go over to sleep with someone new for the first time!
Always meet up in a public place
It doesn’t matter if you’ve met by chance in-person or over dating sites; a first date should always be somewhere public. This holds especially true for our online dating safety tips! And hey, if you’ve met up a few times and are feeling ready and particularly adventurous, you may even consider having sex in public the first time around.
Keep your phone fully charged and close by
Before leaving for your date, ensure that your phone is fully charged and always kept close at hand. You never know when an emergency may arise — anything from safety concerns to a catfish to a generally horrible date. With your cell nearby, you can dial your local emergency number or a trusted friend to pick you up, depending on the situation.
Don’t leave your food or drinks unattended
We can’t say it enough: consent is crucial in all situations. While it’s unfortunate that everyone can’t be trusted, it’s best to be vigilant. Never leave your food or drinks unattended, even in a public space, in case they get drugged with the intention of date rape.
Trust your gut instinct
You know yourself best. Both as off- and online dating safety tips, meeting someone in-person or through dating sites, don’t forget to trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, it doesn’t feel right for a reason. This holds true, even when dating someone who’s been your friend or in friends with benefits situations.
Whether it’s in preparation of the first date, throughout your first two months of dating, or however long into your new relationship that it takes to feel a total sense of trust — safe dating is always critical. Consent is always necessary. Trusting your gut is always a good idea.
So, while there are no exact answers to questions like “how many times do you hang out before dating?” or “how often should you talk when you first start dating?”, know that a fantastic place to start is by becoming well-versed on both off- and online dating safety tips.
Do you have a dating safety plan in place? Is there anything particular you worry about when dating someone new? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
