Online dating and dating apps have become increasingly commonplace in society and for many people; it’s a great way to meet new people and potentially even find the love of their life. Online dating definitely has its perks as it allows you to meet people that you may not otherwise have had the chance to get to know, but it also puts you at risk of various privacy concerns.
The good news is that you can take proactive steps to protect your personal privacy and stay safe when using online dating apps.
Be Careful About What You Share Online
We all know somebody who can easily find that guy we went for a date at a bar with last week simply by knowing his name or even the football team that he plays for.
When you think about it, it’s scary just how easy it is to find somebody online and information about them using just a couple of things that you already know about them.
When using online dating apps and sites, limit the amount of personal information that you share such as where you work, what you work as, and your phone number, to help protect your privacy.
Use Different Photos for Online Dating
Using the same photos for social media and dating apps and websites might seem convenient but you’re also making it super easy for somebody to find out more about you online.
Take photos specifically for use on dating apps and do not upload them to any social media profiles, as all it takes is a simple reverse image search to find a photo that’s on social media and the profile.
Find Out More About Your Dates
While you’ve made it difficult for your matches to find out more about you online, not everybody else will be as careful.
If you’re in the process of arranging to meet up with somebody from an online dating platform, you can use some tools to find out more about them. Nuwber, for example, is a great tool that allows you to find out more about a person using their email address or phone number and can help you get some more information on somebody before you meet up.
Obscure Location Tracking
Many dating apps track your location, and these settings can be very useful to help you find potential dates in your area. However, you should be careful that it doesn’t end up letting people know exactly where you are.
You should ensure that the dating app you are using obscures your location sufficiently, such as telling the other user how many miles away you are, or which city you are in, but never your exact location.
Choose a Reputable Site
Finally, choose a reputable dating site or app that cares about your privacy. Some dating apps allow anybody to contact you regardless of whether or not you have matched with them, so avoid these apps as you will only become sick of people trying to contact you and it could turn into a dating app horror story that most of us are all too familiar with. Apps like Bumble, for example, only allow women to message first and only allow people who have matched previously with you to send you a message. Here are some great Bumble reviews to help you decide if it is right for you.
Online dating and dating apps are great ways to meet new people and could be how you find and create a successful relationship. But, be careful when it comes to your privacy online.
photo source | adobe