Online dating has developed into a billion dollar industry and its growth has not shown any signs of slowing down any time soon. The way people meet in the fast paced world of today has changed. Many people opt to find a romantic partner online. Meeting people online is easy but it does come with some risks.
In this post we aim to put together a list of safety tips that will make meeting your online date in real life a risk free experience.
Taking some basic precautions to be safe when meeting for the first time is important.
Some of the advice in this post may be harsh, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Always put your own safety above anything else when meeting someone new for the first time.
Before Meeting
It is not uncommon to be nervous when meeting someone new for the first time. With this in mind, it may be a good idea to talk to the person you are about to meet over the phone, before meeting them. It may help you build a reasonable level of trust with them and it may help you feel more at ease when you meet them in real life. It may also provide you with early warning signs that it may not be a good idea to meet this person. An online chat with them may be fun and entertaining but a quick conversation over the phone, in real life could give you a good indication if the person is who they say they are.
Never agree to meet anyone that places pressure on you. Don’t meet anyone that tries to abuse you. Don’t ever meet anyone who asks for money.
Pick a public place for your first meeting. A crowded coffee shop in a mall will do just fine. The more public and crowded the place, the better.
Always tell someone you trust where you are going to meet your date and when you are going to meet them. Also ask them to give you a call to check up on you at the time you expect the date to be over.
Make sure your phone is fully charged and in working order so you can use it in case of emergency.
It will be better to use your own car or get someone you trust to drop you off and pick you up. Don’t use public transport. If your date follows you home, you could drive to your nearest police station.
On Your First Date
Do not turn off your cell phone so that you can use it, in case of emergency.
Don’t leave your phone unattended – it may get stolen.
Keep an eye on any of your own belongings like your handbag, wallet, keys, etc.
Don’t leave your drink or food unattended. Leaving your drink or food unattended could give someone an opportunity to drug you.
Do not drink alcohol on the first date. Drinking alcohol may impair your judgement and could result in unintended consequences.
Don’t go home with your date or don’t invite them to your own home. It takes time to get to know someone and to build a reasonable level of trust with them. Taking things too fast may make you seem to be too easy and it may be dangerous for your own personal safety.
Always trust your gut and your instincts. You can never be too safe when meeting someone new for the first time.
After the first date
Make sure that you are not being followed. If you are being followed, drive to your nearest police station.