Meeting safely on a dating app

The best thing about online dating and dating apps is that it gives you the opportunity to get to know new people at the click of a button. But while it can a whole heap of fun chatting to, getting to know and being open to lots of potential dates and even gain a sense of community with other single parents (playdates anyone?), don’t forget to date responsibly to ensure you have a safe and successful experience with us here at Even – and to minimise risk, especially those related to your health and safety.

If you still need some guidance and support on how to stay safe when online dating – leaving time and space for the children, of course, here are our top tips for staying safe online, so you can be in control of your dating experience to meet your perfect match.

How to meet on a dating app

Putting yourself out there can be scary, especially if you haven’t been on a date in a while. With online dating and all the apps out there, the dating scene has changed a lot – even just over the past couple of years.

It’s no news to you that it can still be scary to meet someone you’ve been talking to online, there’s a lot of people out there and you can’t always tell who you’re talking to. Here at Even, we’ve made our dating app for single parents as safe as possible and with your dating safety in mind, we’re here to give advice and tips on how to date online safely – especially when it comes to meeting up for the first time.

Do’s of meeting in person

To start off, the good parts of meeting someone. Meeting someone for the first time is really exciting, you’ve got a babysitter in for the children and you’re open to meeting someone you could really like in the real world. But take a minute to make sure that you prioritise your health and safety, reach out for help if you need it and don’t ever be afraid to ask for some extra support – even if it’s just this article!

If you’re feeling a little nervous concerning safety, we’ve got some top tips on how to stay safe when meeting someone from an online dating app:

• Keep it casual: Try going out in the daytime for coffee or a walk the first time you meet someone, you can get a good view of them (literally and as a person). You don’t have to study everyone to keep safe, so try to relax and have fun.
• Go out in public: Go on a date where there are other people are around. It can be tempting to be overly romantic and suggest a secluded spot, but keeping yourself safe and looking after your wellbeing is the most of important part of dating online.
• Tell a friend and share your location: Don’t date in secret, even though there can be some stigma to dating as a single parent, you should have one friend at least that you can trust with your location and time when you’re going to and coming from a date.
• Keep your phone charged: Make sure that you have a portable phone charger with you if you’re going on a date after work or keep your phone charged in the place you’re going out. Most bars and public places will have somewhere to charge your phone so make sure you have some juice left at the end of the date.
• Make sure the kids are looked after: This should be common sense to most parents, but getting caught up in the whirlwind of romance can make people lose their focus a little. No matter how excited you are to start dating someone new, the kids do come first.
• Drive or travel by yourself: Accepting a lift from someone to a first date can make things easier, but keep your wellbeing at the forefront of your mind and make sure you can get there and back without having to let someone you don’t know take you somewhere (but make sure you don’t drink and drive!).
• Let someone know if you’re uncomfortable: Nowadays bars have many systems in place to ensure that people are kept safe. If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable whilst you’re out, tell the staff at the place you are or let your close friend (who you told where you were) that you feel uncomfortable and have a little escape plan just in case.

 

Don’t’s of meeting in person

Now, what should you do when you feel uncomfortable? Research shows that people who online date are more likely to share their personal information with someone and the news is full of horror stories of dates gone wrong, but if you follow our guidance and make sure that the things you read are helpful (not just fearmongering), you’ll be able to avoid real-world problems and you’ll be fully equipped to deal with any untoward dating instances.

And what are some measures you can take to make sure you keep a feeling of safety when you’re using an online dating app to meet someone for the first time:

• Go out late at night, somewhere hard to get back from: Keep your mind on the time and the travel back home. Look after your own wellbeing and don’t be afraid to say no to a place because you need to be back home earlier rather than later.
• Meet someone who you’re unsure about: Read their profile and read it again! Make sure that this is someone you are sure is real, and you might even get a little more idea of what to say when you’re actually on the date with them.
• Share personal or banking information: Never share your personal information with someone you’ve met online. It might seem like common knowledge, but everyone needs a reminder from time to time.
• Go too far away: It should always be easy to get home. Not only do you have your kids to think about, but make sure you keep all the travel information at hand in case you need to head home quickly.
• Be afraid to use the block button: Don’t be afraid to ask for help – whether it’s from us or on another app, the block button is there for a reason, so use it if you’ve been on a date with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable.
• Do anything you’re uncomfortable with: Whether it’s oversharing or going somewhere that seems unreasonable, set your own boundaries and let the other person know what you do and don’t feel good about.
• Drink more than is safe: We think everyone should be able to be safe when dating, but that’s not always the case. Unfortunately, we can’t make sure people are 100% on the level but one of the ways you can keep your personal safety in mind at all times is making sure you’re not drinking more than you can handle – especially if you’re driving.

Join Even and find someone you like near you

Now that you’re all clued up on how to stay safe when you’re online dating, you’re ready to go!

If you’re looking to meet someone new, start dating again after a while or just want to nose around to see if you want to dip your toes back into the dating pool, Even is here for single parents who are new to free dating apps (and old hands, too).

Meet people who really understand what it’s like to have a family of their own, and start a relationship (perhaps) with someone who you really get along with.

Family always comes first for us, that’s why we are so passionate about keeping our parent safe when online dating.

From our guidance to in-app report and block features, we are here to help you relate to others, date others and not to placate them if they are acting in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Real world dating comes with real world problems, and your health and safety is our number one priority when you’re looking for other single parents on Even.