Online dating and social networking websites seem like a dream—they’re the easiest way to meet a new acquaintance—just browse through the thousands of public profiles and pick one or two or ten! With online dating sites, you feel you know a person instantly—from her choice in music to his love of biking, and they even share their pet peeves. With one click, you believe you’ve learned enough about the person to send a message and start a “relationship” online. It is easy, all right—but is it safe?
Internet safety should be a prime concern for anyone using the wonderful World Wide Web these days. This is particularly true for people who use the services of an online dating site or any site that allows people to communicate and form viable relationships online.
If you’re still unconvinced: remember the recent Craigslist case, which led to the untimely death of a young woman? And just this past month, in an article posted on leaderpost.com, a man was charged with four cases of sexual assault. It’s alleged the man is a predator who targeted women through an online dating site. According to the article: “Police believe the man got to know the women, aged 20 to 44, through undisclosed social networking and dating websites, then lured them to remote areas and sexually assaulted them.”
It is a scary thought, isn’t it? Unfortunately, this is the biting reality for people who use the services of some dating and/or matchmaking sites. You create a profile filled with very personal information and it’s posted online for anybody and everybody to see. It’s easy to forget the people we contact online and those who contact us are “virtual” strangers. A good many people using these sites are well intentioned and genuine, but too many others are not as honest as we’d like. Often the information we read is at best out of date or worse, simply untrue. It’s easy for me to say that I’m an Ivy League graduate even if I never even finished high school. Sad to say, on an online dating site, you can truly be anybody you want to be!
This is why utmost caution should be used when using social networking or dating websites. Be sure to follow these simple tips:
Never give out all your information, especially details that could help someone determine your location (home, work, or school).
If you wish to correspond, be sure to use the anonymous messaging system of the social networking or online dating site. But even in your messages, be careful not to give out your specifics such as your location information. Predators are very sly and if you’re not careful, they manage to get vital information. Be cautious and use common sense.
On some occasions, you may not be aware that you’re already giving out location information from what you share in conversation, like saying you frequent a certain bar that’s unique (it’s in one location), and give out the bar’s name.
While all these tips are valid, your best safety net is still to use an online dating site that is very circumspect in protecting you. How? When you post your profile, consider using a website that keeps it private and confidential and where YOU control who gets to view it — preferably “by invitation only”. These days it’s more important than ever to make connections and correspond with others on your own terms, with complete confidentiality and without having to compromise your privacy or safety.
Tracey Robinson – Founder
Connections With Heart LLC
For more information about online dating, online dating sites and dating service visit www.connectionswithheart.com
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