Online Dating: 3 Tips to Stay Safe

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The lockdown restrictions of the past year have led many people to use dating apps to find a romantic partner, and many couples have been forced to connect virtually to stay safe during the pandemic.

I met my boyfriend online, and with the current restrictions connecting online is often safer and easier than trying to meet someone in person. But with online dating can come other safety issues, and it’s important that we don’t forget internet safety in the advent of this fantastic new way to connect.

Below are 3 tips to stay safe while dating online, making sure you’re always looking out for your mental and physical health.

Block and Delete

This is such an important precedent to set. There are lots of lovely people out there- but there are also some weirdos. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, make sure to block them and delete their details. And if someone becomes abusive- you can even contact the platform you’re using and report the user.

When meeting someone online, it’s also a good idea to make sure you have the same priorities as any potential partners. Do they want a serious relationship? Do they want someone to chat to during the pandemic? Do they just want a few dates? All of these are fine- but you need to make sure you’re on the same page 🙂

Old-fashioned telephone
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Meet in a Public Place

Depending on the restrictions in place at the time, once you’ve connected online you may want to meet up with a potential partner. But it’s important to make sure you meet somewhere that you feel comfortable, and a public place is always your best shot.

At the moment, most meetings will have to be outside- so choose a place you know there will be others around should you need help or feel uncomfortable.

Meeting people in your local area is also a great way to make sure any dates you go on are safe and legal- and there are a few great ways for Lancashire singles to find a date in Lancashire meaning you can find people in your local area to meet up with safely.

Man and woman sit on a wall outside.
Photo by Du01b0u01a1ng Nhu00e2n on Pexels.com

Don’t Give Out Information

This seems like an obvious one- but it can be easy to forget when you’re enjoying someone’s company online. Don’t give anyone your personal details or your contact number, and don’t send any pictures you may later regret.

It can be difficult if you’re having fun with someone online, or even if you think you might be developing feelings- but try to remember to keep some things to yourself and always look out for your mental and physical health first and foremost.

Do you have any tips for staying safe while dating online? What are your virtual date ideas? How do you stay safe online?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x

63 thoughts

  1. These are great tips for meeting someone online safely, thanks for sharing them! Online dating can be a great way to meet someone wonderful, but it’s really important to be careful too. I would add that it’s a good idea to tell someone where you’re going, even if you’re going to be meeting up with someone outdoors.

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  3. Yes to this ! It’s so hard to trust people online nowadays so I definitely agree with meeting in a public place and never giving out any real identifying information !
    Thank you for this post and this reminder x

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  5. Fortunately I’m happily married and have been for a long time so I’ve never used a dating agency, much less a dating app. But these are really helpful tips for any new daters, online or otherwise. The excitement of meeting someone new can mean we forget to think about the practicalities, so thank you for sharing! x

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  7. I love these tips! I’ve never dated someone I met online but a ton of my girlfriends do use the apps. The one thing I’d probably suggest is to always have a friend/family know the details of your date. Even if it’s a public space, you never know when you can be put in an uncomfortable situation so it’s nice to have someone to check in with. I always make sure to get a text before my friends date/during/after when they are safe at home. Thanks for sharing x

    http://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com

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  8. These tips are so important! I think it’s also important to let someone know when you’re meeting someone new, just so they can be a call away and rescue you if it all goes wrong. My friends and I have a ‘code p’ system that we text if we need to get out of a bad date x

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    2. I loved your post. Very concise and well written. It is truly helpful and I agree with all the tips you provided. I have not dated anyone online but I have tried the tinder app for getting to know women (I’m gay) but it never got to a point where I physically had to meet up with them. I actually decided to not even go back at the moment because it’s just too much work for me,lol.

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  11. These are all great tips! I tried just once to use a dating app but left not long after, as you said, plenty of weirdos around, but enjoyed speaking to some very great people too! Thanks for sharing these, safety is so important in these situations! x

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    1. Aw that’s good to hear, but yes there are some strange people out there haha! I think the important thing to remember is looking out for yourself whether it’s making sure you’re on the same page, or you’re meeting in a public place 🙂

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  16. This is great advice. It can be so easy to forget that you don’t know these people when you’ve been chatting and sharing so much with them. In general, social media makes you feel like you know people more than you do and online dating is very much the same x

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  22. These are great tips for dating, period, not just online. Basically, take your time getting to know each other—don’t jump into a relationship.

    I know, especially online, there are people so desperate for a partner that they’re willing to talk marriage after a couple of dates….which is why your tip to be slow with the personal info is so important. (I’m working out my bad relationship demons by writing, so that post will come out at some point! ☺️

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    1. Yes that’s very true, I agree that online dating can speed things along sometimes (and I’m sure that’s a lot more intense during a pandemic) 🙂 writing can be such a good outlet, thank you for dropping by x

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  26. These are such great tips! I agree on the meeting in public part – I will never go to someone’s apartment of house on a first date, cause you can never know what they’re true intentions are. I am guilty of giving out my phone number before meeting though, it’s just easier to reach them on the day itself in case you would be late or something 😅

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  28. i feel like a lot of teenagers on tikto need to be reminded that not everyone you meet online is as nice irl! dating online seems like fun but may lead to huge problems that compromise your safety!

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