Stay safe on Tinder

Tinder has changed the face of online dating, making it fashionable to hook up online by swiping right. As with any online dating site or app, Tinder comes with a security warning. While user safety is a concern for Tinder, they don’t perform background checks or vet any of their users, so you need to be vigilant when using the app. While we can all do more to stay safe online here are some tips to stay safe on Tinder and other dating sites like Match, Plenty of Fish or OKCupid.

Check out your date on social media

One of the great things about Tinder is that it links with your Facebook account, so you can easily see if you and your swipe share any friends. There’s no shame in asking your friends before you meet up what they think. If you’re meeting someone on another dating app, search for them on Facebook, Linkedin and even Google. Steer clear of anyone with no bio info, linked accounts or users with only one picture.

Wait before you meet up

It’s always best to get the know someone before meeting up with them, no matter how casual the relationship will be. Exchange a few messages, find out what interests you share and generally get to know the person before you meet face to face.

Don’t share your number or other personal information

You should never share personal information with anyone on Tinder until you get to know them. There are tons of Tinder horror stories and scammers, so don’t give out your email address or mobile number until you feel comfortable that your date is genuine. It’s simple to set up an email for first contact or get an extra mobile number and keep your main number private. You may want to use your Vyke number until you start regularly seeing someone, I have one friend who gave still gets late night phone calls from a date she went on in 2008!

Always meet up in a public place

Your first meetings should happen in a public place, ideally during the daytime. And you should always arrange to meet at the location, so take control of your own transport even if that means taking a cab. You don’t want to let someone know where you live immediately, or be reliant on them to get home. Especially if the date doesn’t go well.

Tell a friend

Tinder strongly advises that you let a friend know where you plan to meet up and at what time. You should then contact them with updates so you can feel safe. If you’re unsure you can ask a friend to be in the general vicinity during the date, or ping them regular updates throughout your date.

In general you should be cautious when you meet anyone online, and if you are not sure about someone, then don’t meet up with them! You can never be sure what kind of person they are but following the tips above you can feel a bit safer.