Dating Safely Online

Baylor University annually recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month throughout April with on-campus events, activities and trainings. These resources help students navigate a variety of spaces in which they interact with others relationally, such as the internet. Safety is a real concern regarding online dating, especially as it becomes increasingly popular. According to a recent poll by Pew Research Center, 53% of people aged 18-29 have used dating apps. Dating apps can be a simple swipe on a smartphone to connect with a wider variety and number of people. While the apps can be a good way to meet potential partners, they also create challenges and safety concerns.

Even though many apps include safety features, users must stay alert and protect themselves while online dating. Tracey Tevis, education and prevention specialist in the Baylor Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office, offers tips on how to stay safe and protect yourself while online dating.

• Look at profiles carefully. Check a potential date on social media to see if they match their profile. Don’t take everything at face value; it is easy to be dishonest online. If the profile seems suspicious, move on, report or block them.
• Take new photos for your profile. If you are using the same images on your profile that you use on social media, it can be possible for someone to find you and learn about you without your knowledge.
• Do not share personal information. Keep your personal information, such as name, phone number, birth date, etc., private. Make sure not to include any identifying information in your profile as well.
• Research your match before meeting in person. It is a good idea to look up the person before meeting to make sure they are who they say they are.
• Set and stick to boundaries. Consider your boundaries and non-negotiables; if this person doesn’t meet what you are looking for in a romantic partner, move on.
• Consider the whole person, not just looks or surface qualities.
• Meet in a public place. There are plenty of places to arrange to meet someone met online, such as coffee shops, museums, or zoos. It could be a red flag if someone insists on meeting in a private location. Arranging to meet with a group or a double date also gives you time to get to know someone.
• Have your own transportation. Drive your car or take a rideshare. Make sure that at least one friend knows where you are going and the name of whom you are going to meet.
• Trust your instincts. If anything feels off at any time, trust your instincts and stop communication or leave the date.
• Be okay with rejection and rejecting. Be an active listener and work to understand, not react. If it doesn’t work out, that is okay. You may not find “your person”, but you may find a new friend.