Dating safety tips

Protect your identity online

Most identity leaks are self-inflicted and preventable.

• •Do not reuse profile photos that appear on your public social accounts; a reverse image search links them in seconds
• •Crop out house numbers, street signs, uniforms and workplace lanyards
• •Keep chat on TRUME until you are confident; a phone number is a real name in most countries
• •Use a separate email address for dating

The first date

Keep it short, public and cheap. An hour in a café tells you as much as an evening does, and it is far easier to leave.

• •Public venue, your choice, mid-afternoon or early evening
• •Own transport there and back, never a lift from them
• •Watch your drink, and do not leave it unattended
• •A friend knows the plan and expects a check-in message
• •You are allowed to leave at any moment, without an explanation

Outing risk

Being outed can affect housing, work and family safety. Think about who you are visible to before you agree to a venue, and be explicit with a match about what discretion you need. Anyone who treats your safety boundary as a negotiation is telling you who they are.

Travel and cross-border dating

Laws and social attitudes vary enormously. Before travelling to meet someone, read our country page for the destination, check current government travel advice, and make sure someone at home has your itinerary and accommodation details.