Keeping yourself safe when online dating
Match.com, the pioneering online dating site was launched in 1995. In the decades that have followed, the online dating landscape has changed dramatically.
Long gone are the days where people would find it strange to meet someone online. In fact, research from eHarmony shows that by 2035 more than 50% of all romantic relationships will start online.
While online dating is now ubiquitous, it isn’t without risk.
Risks of dating apps
The most common risk of digital dating is catfishing.
Google defines catfishing as ‘the process of luring someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona’. This is something that has become increasingly common in recent years.
There are various reasons why someone might create a catfish profile, some more malicious than others. These reasons can include:
Attention seeking: Some people create fake profiles to attract attention and validation from others. They may feel lonely or unimportant and seek the validation that comes from being someone else online.
Deception and fraud: Catfish dating profiles may use false information or photos to gain someone's trust, and then exploit them for money or personal information.
Revenge or harassment: In some cases, a person may create a fake dating profile to harass or embarrass someone they know. They may use the fake profile to send inappropriate messages or to publicly shame the victim.
Insecurity: Some individuals may create a fake profile to hide their true identity because they are insecure about themselves. They may feel that their real identity is not good enough and use a fake persona to feel more confident and attractive.
Statistics suggest that as many as 1 in 10 online dating profiles are fake. With such a worrying trend it’s easy to understand why so many people are anxious about dating online.
So, what can you do?
Protect yourself online
First, you can keep an eye out for any of the suspicious behaviours listed below:
Asking you for money
Asking you to connect on different sites/apps
Refusing to meet up in person
Refusing video or phone calls
Expressing strong emotions in a short space of time
Asking lots of questions about you and providing little info about them
This list is by no means conclusive and there are a few other things you can do to help protect yourself when dating online:
Create a unique email address for your dating profiles separate from your personal or work email.
Don’t share personal details like full name, address, place of work etc.
Never send money to people you’ve met online.
Safer dating apps
One of the methods being used to help combat fake profiles is by using background checks. Many of the big names in digital dating now incorporate some kind of background check into their service.
For example, Tinder allows users to carry out 2 free background checks on potential partners. This has been made available through their partnership with non-profit consumer background screening organisation, Garbo. However, this service is currently limited to US users.
But the safeguarding lapses already made by these companies have created a gap in the market for safe online dating. Multiple challenger companies have appeared in recent years dedicated to providing a safe dating experience.
Last year, Fluttr became the first dating app in the UK to require everyone who registers to verify their identity. This is done using digital identity verification techniques, which you can find an explainer on here.
They’ve been followed by Safer Date, a dating platform designed to eliminate fake profiles, anonymity and abuse. Again, they do this through digital ID verification techniques to ensure that everyone who signs up is who they say they are.