Most of us are looking for that special someone, the person who will stand by us through all the trials of life and celebrate our successes. Apps like Tinder have made it easier than ever to find a date; all you must do is open your phone and scroll to your heart’s content, setting up dates with a few taps of the keyboard.
Convenient as this is, it can also be pretty dangerous: not only could you potentially be scammed out of thousands of dollars, but you may be stalked or worse. As such, it’s critical for everyone who decides to open up on the internet to know how to stay safe when you’re hunting for the perfect catch.
Never Send Money to a Potential Tinder Date
It may seem obvious, but unfortunately, many people are catfished into sending a stranger cash through a convincing sob story on Tinder. Always be cautious of anyone who repeatedly hints that they need money or outright asks you for funds; they are likely doing this to many other people simultaneously. By no means should you Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle anyone from Tinder money, and do not provide credit card numbers or your Social Security number.
Don’t Freely Give Out Your Phone Number
Eventually, you’ll need to swap phone numbers with your potential sweetheart; if they’re going to be part of your life, you’ll want them to be able to check in with them and chat for hours about everything. Unfortunately, though, not everyone you talk to will have the best intentions: for example, after your date, they may harass you for a second meeting even if you’re uncomfortable with it.
While you may think you absolutely have to give them your phone number before setting up a date, that’s not necessarily true. Keep your chats to Tinder until you’re certain that this person is safe. You can arrange a meeting for a specific time and place on the app; wear a distinctive accessory, like a hat or scarf, and tell them to look for this when they arrive. Agree ahead of time that if either of you is more than half an hour late, the date is canceled. This keeps you from waiting around or having to text them for confirmation.
For added security, don’t have your phone number attached to your profile; instead, use a Tinder number bypass to verify your account.
Keep Your Socials Off-Limits
Many of us love to get new followers on Instagram or Twitter: it’s an ego boost, and it also helps us meet cool new people to chat with. However, when you’re actively dating, it’s a good idea to avoid giving them your social media information, as they can easily use it to stalk you. Use different usernames on your accounts, and never use your full real name on any of your social accounts unless they are for business, like LinkedIn, or solely for family, like Facebook.
You should also avoid cross-posting pictures from Tinder onto other websites, as a disgruntled date can use reverse image search on Google to find anywhere else that you may have linked this. Take fresh pictures, preferably ones without any identifying landmarks in the background, to use on Tinder, and ask anyone else who might be in the photo to avoid posting it anywhere else. This way, it’s harder for someone to track down your other accounts and harass you there.
Keep Biographical Information to a Minimum
There’s a delicate balance between oversharing and being secretive, and it’s never been more obvious than on Tinder. You want potential dates to get to know you, but you also want to be sure that they can’t leverage this information against you, such as contacting your place of business and making false accusations about you.
As such, don’t share things like your college name or place of work, as a dedicated stalker could use these biographical breadcrumbs to find you on other platforms. If you work in a very specialized line of work, you may use more general terms to describe it; for example, if you’re an astrophysicist, simply say that you’re a scientist. You can, of course, disclose this information later, after you’ve decided that this person is likely to be safe.
Instead, focus on hobbies that you might have or things that you’re passionate about, like animal rights or the environment. This gives a potential date enough things to develop a connection, but these details are general enough that they can’t necessarily be used to track you down.
Though you joined Tinder to find a partner or soulmate, be aware that others use this platform for much more nefarious means. While it shouldn’t scare you away from dating, you should take caution and heed these essential tips when swiping through profiles to avoid getting your heart broken. Protect your privacy through temporary phone numbers and keep your socials strictly off-limits, and you’ll have a fulfilling Tinder experience that, hopefully, will lead you to true love.