Safety Considerations for Online Dating

    Millions of people use the Internet as a place to network with and meet new people. Couples across the country have shared stories about finding love online, meeting, and spending the rest of their lives together. Sadly, there are almost as many Internet dating horror stories as there are success stories. You can make the most out of your Internet dating experience by remembering a few simple rules.

    Trust your gut instincts. They’re normally correct. You should immediately end all contact with anyone you speak to online if they make you feel at all awkward or insecure. It’s better to end a relationship before it’s formed than it is to end one after forming emotional bonds. You’re better off ending contact and moving on to your next interest.

    Use a free e-mail account. You may decide, for any number of reasons, that it’s time to make your communication with your new dating interest a little more personal by sharing e-mail addresses. Doing so moves you off of the monitored and more secure online-dating site and into the realm of personal information. Do not give the person you have been speaking to your regular, personal email address, especially if it includes any part of your real name. Set up a free e-mail account through a website such as Yahoo!, Hotmail, or Gmail. Only give the minimum amount of information required to register for these free accounts and try to avoid giving your real or full name at all costs. Doing so keeps your personal information private until you are willing to share it.

    Do not give out personal information. Personal information, such as your name, address, and phone number, should remain guarded. Sharing too much information too quickly could get you into trouble that could have otherwise been avoided. When it is time to share personal information, do so sparingly and cautiously. For example, if you decide to exchange phone numbers, share your cell phone number instead of your home phone number. Your home phone number can be traced in a way that gives your address whereas your cell phone cannot. If you decide to meet in person, do not give out your home address; instead, meet in a public place and have a friend or two on standby in case you feel you need to break free of an uncomfortable situation.

    Always take a step back and reevaluate your situation if you are unsure as to whether or not the person you have met online is safe to be around. The Internet is a great place to meet new people and form new relationships, but these relationships can easily turn into nightmares. It’s better to be cautious than it is to become a statistic.