Technology is a wonderful thing, and it can help us in many different aspects of our lives, even those we didn’t realize we needed any help with. That includes dating. We’re all such busy people that finding a partner in the traditional way – going out and meeting someone – isn’t always as easy as it once used to be, and online dating can help. It makes that first introduction and meeting easier and could lead to bigger and better things.
However, just like with any form of dating, it can have its downsides, and those downsides include the fact that you don’t actually know the person you’re planning to meet up with, and they might not have the best intentions. They might not even be who they say they are. With that in mind, here are some of the ways to help you stay safe when online dating.
Video Call First
There is no excuse you should listen to as to why someone can’t connect on a video call before you go to meet up with them. Everyone has access to a mobile device, such as a phone or tablet, and they will have video calling capabilities – an app like WhatsApp is free and it offers video calling, for example.
Make sure that you don’t just talk on the phone, but that you arrange a video chat and ideally, more than one, before you meet in real life. In this way, you can get to know the person better, and you can be sure that who you’re meeting is the person your profile matched with. You can even use the time you spend talking to decide what it is you want from this date – it might be a simple hookup, and if so, perhaps you’ll want to include toys from wetforher.com, or maybe it’s the start of something more long term.
Meet In A Public Place
You have probably heard this piece of advice before, but it bears repeating: always meet in a public place. Never go to their place or ask them to yours before you really feel comfortable doing that, and it’s highly unlikely that you will know whether you want to do this until you meet them in the flesh, and perhaps meet them a few times to get to know them better.
The more public the place is that you meet, the more comfortable you will feel, and the easier the date will be. If you’re tense and nervous, you won’t be able to be yourself or focus on your date, and something that could have worked out might not stand a chance.
Tell People What You’re Doing
Meeting in a public place is a good idea, but you must also let people know where you’re going, who you’re with, and when you intend to be home. Should something be amiss, they’ll be able to get you help a lot more quickly.
You don’t have to share all your date’s personal information with a friend or family member, but giving them their name, a photo of them, and telling them where and when you’re going to meet is a good idea. They can check in with you to ensure you’re having a good time, and it’s good backup to help you feel more comfortable.
