How do I stay safe on an online date?

Whether you’re looking for the love of your life or a quick fumble on your lunch hour, the online dating revolution has made it super easy to translate online flirting into real-life relationships. Unfortunately, while broken hearts and bad dates have always been part of the scene, it is also increasingly littered with horror stories of people finding themselves in seriously dodgy situations.Have a look below for our top tips on surviving an online date. Whilst they might not help you’ll find the love of your life, they should ensure that the worst thing you’ll experience will be your date’s cheesy chat-up lines.

In the clip above from Gay Sex, Apps and Me Harry has recently come out and decides to check out the gay app scene. He quickly finds himself shocked at how quickly you can go from texting on an app to hooking up in real life. Like the clip? Watch the whole short on demand on All 4.

Pulling Power

Before you dust off your pulling pants and stock up on breath mints, you’ve got to find someone to date. Here are some powerful pointers for staying safe before you even log off your app...

Be age savvy

Dating apps and sites aren’t meant for under 18s because of the risks associated with meeting strangers, particularly if they are much older. It’s a sad fact that dating sites can be the stomping grounds of sexual predators, particularly those looking for hook-ups with underage users. Predators can be very skilful at manipulating you and the trouble you can get into if you use the site underage might be far worse than simply violating the site’s T&Cs.

Know the territory

Different apps and sites have different characteristics and are set up with certain types of dates in mind. From sites promoting love and relationships to apps shamelessly designed for casual sex, figuring this out in advance should give you a good idea of what your potential dates might be expecting.

Fire up your lie detector

From overly-flattering profile pics to knocking a few years off your age, most people tend to bend the truth a bit on their profiles. Whilst it’s OK to make allowances for the little exaggerations, totally fake profiles are also out there in abundance and the people behind them can be scary. If your gut instinct is telling you that they aren’t who they claim to be or they’re asking things that are making you feel uncomfortable, don’t take the risk of meeting up offline.

Keep personal info off your profile

Save the private stuff for when you’ve met someone in person and have decided you trust them. Don’t give out your phone number, address, email, social networks or where you work or study. If you’re using a mobile dating app, make sure you turn the location settings off. The last thing you want is a lovesick psycho turning up on your doorstep.

Don’t flash your naughty bits

It might seem like a bit of flirty fun but online dating sites really aren’t the place for sharing naked images. There are all sorts of ways these can get into the wrong hands and once they’re out there, it’s almost impossible to get them back. Check out our article on sexting and revenge porn for more info about keeping prying eyes off your saucy pics.

Report the inappropriate stuff

From generally creepy behaviour to unsolicited nude pics and people cajoling you into flashing some flesh, flag up any incidents to the site’s admins and if it’s serious, notify the police or report it on the CEOP website.

The Date

Yay, you’ve found a match! The following tips should help you stay safe on your big night...

Meet in public

For the first date at least, never arrange to meet at your home or their home. Keeping things on neutral ground makes it easier to make a sharp exit and meeting in public should help deter any seriously weird behaviour.

Drive yourself or take public transport

Never rely on your date to pick you up or drop you home until you get to trust them. Getting in a car with someone you hardly know is risky and, if they turn out to be a massive creep, you may not want them to know where you live.

Keep your mates in the loop

Once you’ve arranged the date, tell your friends where you’re going, who you’re meeting and when. It’s a good idea to check in with them again when you’re home safely and, to be extra cautious, you could arrange for a mate to text you during the date to make sure everything’s going OK.

Stay sober

Getting drunk or high on a first date can make you extremely vulnerable. From making poor judgments to being unable to defend yourself, it’s always best to limit your intake or stick to the virgin mocktails. If you think it might be tricky to resist getting smashed, consider arranging a daytime date instead to take the pressure off.

Casual sex

Whether you’re in the market for a one-night stand or you get swept off your feet on the first date, always plan to play safe in the bedroom. Remember, the pill may prevent pregnancy but it can’t stop infections so always use a condom.