Online Dating Safety Tips

Going to online dating Web sites to meet new people has quickly become the norm. Unfortunately, when you've found a profile of a person who appeals to you, you can never quite be sure if what you're looking at is true. Take common-sense precautions and follow these online dating safety tips before meeting anyone new to keep yourself out of risky situations.

Use a Reputable Web site or Service

Part of online dating safety involves using a widely known service. Before signing up for any kind of Web site or service, read their privacy policies. The service's policies about improper use should be easy to find and should be one that protects its users. The site should not sell your information to other companies, and they should also protect your credit card information.

Online dating is common, so don't be afraid to ask friends and family members for recommendations. Chances are, they or one of their friends have used an online dating service and will have some words of advice.

You Can't Be Too Careful

When you start looking at online dating profiles and making your own, keep yourself anonymous. You want to be up front about your needs, desires and interests, but you do not want to give out such personal information as your address, name, personal e-mail or specific work information. Keeping private information to yourself can help prevent bad situations.

The smallest of gestures and acts of communication affect your online dating safety. To start, exchange several e-mails, and consider using instant messenger (IM) as a means of communication. Create a screenname and profile that speaks to your personality and interests but does not give too much personal information. As you exchange information with a potential dating partner, you can get a feel for that person and can decide later if you want to meet them face to face. Remember that you are under no obligation to meet anyone you talk to online.

Also set up a separate e-mail account that you use solely for online dating. Consider saving your IM conversations in case anything happens later on.

Warning Signs

If the person you meet online is flooding you with e-mails or messages and you have only just started talking, this is not a good sign. You're not deeply involved with this person. You want to take things slow when you're getting to know someone, and this rule is no different when talking to people through dating Web sites.

Language is also an indicator of potential problems. Even if it comes through e-mail or IM, any sort of threat, violent comment or statement that makes you feel remotely uncomfortable means you should cut off contact with the person. You don't have to be nice or feel guilty, particularly if you haven't even met the person. Do not wait until things get out of hand.

If the person is sending you hateful e-mails, do not respond, even to tell them to stop. That will only serve as fuel. If they continue to contact you, e-mail the service you are using; they should have policies in place to deal with aggressive users, and you'll be doing other people who use the service a favor. If the messages are abusive and increasingly violent, notify the police.

Meeting in Person

Online dating safety means more than your conduct online; it also involves how you go about meeting someone in person. Be sure you feel comfortable with the person you are talking to before making plans to meet in person.

Choose a public place, tell friends and family about the meeting and tell them when you plan to return. You may even want to bring someone else along or have them situated in the same space. Meeting in a public space is crucial to online dating safety; it assures someone will see you if things go sour. Before you go, make sure you have your cell phone and that it is fully charged.

Additionally, set up a timeframe for the meeting. You want to have enough time to get to know your date, but you don't want to stay so long so that the meeting becomes too intimate. Also keep it casual, and avoid drinking. Even if your date is perfectly normal, you want to be on the top of your game and alert.

Part of online dating safety is to use caution until you truly get to know the person you're dating. This means that you should not go home with that person or go anywhere that other people can't see you. You may really like the online profile of the person you will meet, but you never know what they are like in person.