Trouble Signs in Online Profiles

By: Lisa Bower

The Web has erupted and become a major part of people's day-to-day lives. Because of this, more and more people are communicating with and meeting people online. However, because you do not see the other person, you can never be 100% certain that what you're reading is what you get. If you learn how to spot the red flags in online profiles, you can protect yourself from wasting time or from getting yourself into a dangerous situation.

When you look at a profile, look at the photos. What kind of photos do they have up? Do they have many photos or just a few? If a person doesn't have any photos of themselves up or if the photos are highly sexual or violent, this is a major sign of trouble.

Look at the groups, interests and friends on an online dating profile when searching for trouble signs. You can use these features to gauge their interests, as well as whether or not they are telling the truth. For example, if they belong to the "I Like to Kick Puppies" group, they may not necessarily be a person with whom you need to communicate.

Think about what their screen name says about them. If it's disturbing in any way, this is a trouble sign. Also, if a person reveals too much information about themselves on the Web, it could mean trouble in that they are not aware of online safety.

Look at the comments on the online profile: What kind of conversations are they having with people? Additionally, look for anything that might contradict what they have said to you or anything that seems contradictory in the profile itself. For example, if they say they are fifteen, but their friends are all over the age of thirty, this could mean the listed age is not accurate.

Finally, if you view a person's profile and can't grasp a sense of their personality, this is an issue. You don't want to know all about a person's insecurities and issues, which is another red flag, but you should have some sense of this person's character. If information is spare on a profile, it could mean they are hiding something.

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