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Online dating is popular trend among everyone, the younger ones not being the only one’s who participate. The amount of people who hook up and/or end up with a person on the other end of the right swipe is crazy!
But the question is, okay, you’ve met someone that you seem to connect with, what do you do next? Here are some tips on how to make sure that who you are talking to is really who they say they are, and how to stay safe during your date, physically and sexually.
All of this information applies to both men and women (unless stated otherwise).
1. Stalk away! Check their extra social media accounts and more!
You need to make sure that the person you’re talking to is who they say they are. Screenshot some of their images from their profile picture and reverse google search it. People use model photos all the time and you’ll be able to quickly find out if they have done so. Helps to avoid cat-fishing, a little bit. Scroll through their linked social media pages as well to see if they’re well established or looking too new.
2. Ask for their SnapChat instead of their phone number to start with.
This way you will have the ability to block them if they get to be a little too much, and you can both type as well as send pictures. No, not nude pictures. But you can send selfies to check that what they look like when they Snap you is the same as their profile. Maybe they used an old photo and don’t look anything like they used to. It’s better you know that now rather when you meet up, if you choose to.
3. Don’t send explicit photos when you just connect.
Sending explicit photos is a thing now so if that’s your choice, don’t do it with someone you just met, especially putting your face in these photos. You never know who the person is on the other side and you have zero clue if what you send them will be posted on some questionable site. Just don’t do it. Sextortion used to be a thing. Also don’t click links that they send you. This is another way to get into serious trouble.
4. Choose a public location to meet up. DO NOT GO TO THEIR HOUSE!
You are meeting with a stranger. Don’t you remember ‘stranger-danger’? Go to a public location that you are both new to. If you don’t know the area very well, google it so you can have a feel of the area. Check out google street view and see what it all looks like. If you go to this strangers house, they have the advantage if they turn out to be crazy. They can lock you in and they know the space, you don’t. Choose somewhere public so, if it goes wrong, you have witnesses and can get out.
5. Tell your friends what you’re up to.
Guy or girl, tell your friends where you’re going, and maybe share your location. Set up code words or fake calls 5 minutes into the date just in case it’s not going well or you feel uncomfortable. Neither party knows who they are meeting up with. So make sure you have someone know where you are in case something goes wrong.
6. If you can’t ask about STD’s during the date, maybe don’t sleep with them.
If you don’t feel comfortable to ask if they have an STD during the date, especially if you are considering hooking-up, maybe you shouldn’t sleep with them. STD’s are on the rise, thanks to apps like Tinder. If you think that Tinder dating is going to be your thing, maybe consider getting a card with the last time you had an STD test. But once you have sex again, that card is invalid.
You don’t want your hook-up to end with some uncomfortable situations now, do you?
7. Use. A. Condom.
For gods-sake, use one. You don’t know this person. You don’t know anything about them. They can say that they have game and they can say that they won’t do X, Y and Z but you’ve known them for what..a week? Use one. Saves you that $50 Plan B later on or 18 years of commitment. This also helps with reducing the risks of STDs too.
8. Don’t feel obligated to sleep with them if that isn’t your thing.
Not everyone wants to hook-up. You may want to date or wait because it went better than you though. Feel comfortable saying no to things. If you’re not wanting sex, they need to understand that. If they make you feel horrible because you won’t sleep with them, then maybe they’re not the person for you.
9. Meet during the day time!
The day time is the best time to meet a new person. You can go for coffee. There’s no commitment for sex (‘cus it’s the middle of the day), it’s light out and it’s a small commitment. This is the safest time to meet.
10. Ladies, wear heels.
Heels are great for women for self defense. They can be used to stamp on someones foot or taken off to beat them with. You most likely won’t be getting to running if the situation arises so heels are the best safe bet.
