Four online dating tips to help keep you safe
Meeting potential love interests online may be exhilarating but can come with risks. Experts share their best tips for safer online dating.
Online dating is one of the most popular ways to meet new people.
From 2015 to 2021, there was a 60 per cent increase in people using online channels for dating, and that figure is on the rise.
But online dating can come with safety risks.
A study released by the Australian Institute of Criminology has revealed three quarters of people surveyed had experienced some form of sexual violence because of online dating in the past five years.
This included abusive and threatening language, unsolicited sexual images and stalking.
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The most common form of sexual violence
The study found sexual harassment was the most common form of violent behaviour, affecting 69 per cent of respondents.
Sexual harassment included being contacted again by someone after the respondent said they were not interested, and being sent sexual images when they did not ask for them.
The study found 34 per cent of respondents had experienced in-person sexual violence by someone they met on a dating app or website.
This included being pressured verbally to perform unwanted sexual acts, and having their drink spiked to try to get them to perform a sexual act.
The study also found rates of sexual violence were much higher among LGBTIQ+ people.
Don’t let politeness keep you from keeping yourself safe.
Four strategies to help keep you safe when online dating
1. Have your date in a public place
“Do not ever meet at the person’s home or an address you do not know,” dating coach and The One author Demi Paterson says.
Plan your date in a public place, such as an art gallery or a picnic at the park, preferably during the day.
“It may not have the romance of a dinner date but it’s better to keep you safe,” Demi says.
2. Be aware of red flags
There are a few warning signs to watch out for while using dating apps.
These include someone asking you for personal details or pressuring you to do things you are not comfortable doing.
And if a date is flexing their wealth, “don’t be naive”, Demi says.
“Obvious flaunting of wealth, either by the photos … or what is written in their profile, is manufactured to attract a certain calibre of person. Please don’t buy into it.”
3. Trust your gut
Matchsmith founder Holly Bartter says never be afraid to end a date promptly if it’s going badly.
“Don’t let politeness keep you from keeping yourself safe,” Holly says.
If things go sour, end the date as soon as you can and return to safety.
Always have an excuse to leave if you need to escape.
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4. Have a “safety-first person”
Be it your first or 100th date with someone, ensure you have a “safety-first person” – someone you trust that can help if things go awry.
“Tell them where you are meeting, and use technology not just to meet the person but to keep you safe by letting them see your location at all times,” Demi says.
“People can’t look out for you if they don’t know where you are or who you are with.”
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Written by Alexandra Feiam.
