Will they become your future partner, someone to enjoy some spontaneous fun with or a close friend? Whatever path it takes, dating should always be fun and safe. Below are some steps to consider when dating, both to keep yourself safe, but also being aware of the impact your behaviour may have on others. Before creating an online dating profile or account, take a step back and think about yourself. Get to know yourself better. Consider your boundaries, your values etc. Just like in real life, be cautious of what you share digitally.
For example, do people really need to know the street you live in? As with any digital profile, you can put yourself out there without putting ALL of yourself out there. When you do create that profile, be honest about your age and use authentic photos.
Be interested to be interesting. The questions you ask, the way you ask them and when you ask them can be important. Be upfront but be mindful not to ask intrusive or uncomfortable questions.
Whether said as jokes or pick up lines, messages that use racist, sexist, homophobic, or able-ist language will always fall flat. Aside from all the built-in safety features, dating apps are online communities and rely on their members reporting to create a better experience for all.
For some joining a dating app may be their first step into their own sexual discovery. You might find you are spending more of your time talking about your favorite Netflix show— which is totally fine. The majority of people on dating apps will be looking for a new connection, but there are people that may create profiles with bad intent. A very obvious red flag is if anyone mentions money in their profile or anyone you match with starts discussing money and the fact that they need some urgently.
