Australia is a country known for its laid-back lifestyle and friendly people. This also holds true when it comes to the online dating world. Just like anywhere else, online dating comes with inherent risks. This guide consists of essential safety tips to help you navigate the Australian online dating scene while keeping yourself protected.
Building a Secure Online Foundation:
Passwords: It is crucial that you pick strong, unique passwords in the online world. Absolutely avoid using birthdays, pet names, or easily guessable information. Consider using an offline password manager to generate and store complex passwords for all your online accounts, including dating apps.
Two-Factor Authentication: Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your dating apps and social media profiles. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code sent to your phone or email in addition to your password when logging in.
Profile Privacy: Review your privacy settings on dating apps and social media. Never publicly display your phone number, home address, or workplace.
Screening and Communication:
Profile Picture: Be cautious of profiles with blurry or heavily filtered photos. Also be on the lookout for photos that does not portray reality. Photos that do not portray reality might consists of a celebrity or heavily Photoshopped photo as a means of hiding the identity of a person. If someone seems reluctant to share a clear picture of themselves, it could be a red flag.
Social Sleuthing: A quick social media search can reveal inconsistencies between someone’s profile information and their online presence. Remember, this is just one piece of the puzzle. Don’t only rely on social media to judge someone.
Keeping it Online: Communicate with your matches within the dating website’s or app’s messaging system for as long as possible. This allows you to anonymously screen potential matches before taking things further by giving out your contact information for a meeting.
Safeguard Your Information: Never share sensitive personal information like your home address or financial information. It would also be wise not to give out your phone number until you have established a reasonable level of trust with the other person.
Video Call Verification: Having a video call before meeting someone in person may be a great way to asses their genuineness and to get a better sense of their personality.
Meeting Up In Real Life: Always meet for a first date in a well-lit, public place with plenty of people around. Popular cafes, restaurants, or bars are good options.
Meeting Up Safety: Let a trusted friend or family member know where you’re going and who you’re meeting. Also let them know when you expect to be back. It may also be a good idea to ask them to give you a phone call at the time you expect the date to be finished with your date.
Independent Transportation: Arrange your own transportation to and from the date. This gives you control over the situation and you can leave at any time if you feel uncomfortable.
Pay for yourself: Offering to pay for your own drink or meal on a first date can be a safety measure. Paying for yourself removes the financial obligation to stay longer than you’re comfortable with.
Use Your Intuition: Trust your gut feeling. If something feels off, then it probably is. Don’t be afraid to end the date politely and leave.
Australian-Specific Considerations:
Scams Down Under: Be wary of common online dating scams targeting Australians. These might involve requests for money, or individuals claiming to be overseas and needing financial assistance to visit. Make it a rule never to give money to people you meet online.
Unmasking Catfishing: Catfishing is referred to as someone using a fake online persona. Beware that this is always a risk when you communicate online with potential love interests. Photos or profiles that seem too perfect could be signs of a catfish.
Dating Platforms: Dating apps and dating websites often have built-in safety features and resources. Familiarize yourself with these and use them for your own online dating safety.
Always prioritize your own safety and well-being when it comes to online dating
Online dating can be a fun and rewarding experience if you approach it by putting your own safety first. Always be mindful of catfishing, scams and uncomfortable situations. Focus on making genuine connections and the next person you meet online and get to know offline in real life may just be that special someone you have been looking for.