Don’t Rush Into Things
Don’t be in such a hurry to jump into bed with “HotHungMuscle” that you overlook obvious or subtle red flags about that person, the situation you’re getting into, and the safety around it. Give yourself all the time you need to be confident that an anonymous hookup, blind date, or first meetup is truly a good idea in the moment.
Don’t Share Too Much Personal Info
When you’re chatting to someone on a dating app or even who you might suddenly meet somewhere, always think critically about what you share until you get to know them. You don’t have to share anything you’re not comfortable with, especially if someone is being overly pushy about it.
• Don’t post your phone number, address, or where you work on your dating app profile.
• Only share information with people that you can trust.
• Don’t provide any financial information to other people.
• Be cautious when connecting your social media accounts to your dating app profiles.
Make Sure You Are Talking To A Real Person
• Pictures, pictures, pictures. Anyone who’s real on dating apps should have multiple pictures. You should easily be able to get face pictures, and not just ones of his tool or hole. Politely but steadfastly require a face picture. If he says he doesn’t have one, that’s a red flag. They can take one on their phone right now and send it if they have a face. If they can’t provide the most basic form of identification, don’t wast your time.
• Check their social media links. Most dating apps allow users to post links to their Instagram, Facebook, Threads, BlueSky and more. Dive into these if provided to get their vibe a little better and verify they are who they say they are. Be wary of any social media accounts that are newly created and have no posts. If they don’t have social media links however, don’t judge – some guys are genuinely private and don’t share that at first.
• Use an app that has mandatory photo verification to make sure they are a real person. Here, users are prompted to take a selfie with different poses generated by the app. The photo is then verified by a real person. Verified users will have a check mark or badge displayed on their profile. If safety is a concern, only meet up with people who are verified.
• Try chatting via phone or video chat before setting up a meeting in person. A video call or voice is a good way to gut check check their vibe and current state of mind.
Be Aware Of Scammers
• Has pictures that look too good to be true, have a stock lifestyle photo or AI feel.
• Someone pressures you into giving them your phone number or location despite you saying no.
• Someone who provides little or no identifying information or has anonymous unverified profiles.
• After a few chats they ask you for financial assistance or offer investing help out of the blue.
Utilize Block & Report Features
• If someone is making you feel uncomfortable on a dating app, block them. This will remove you from their view, as well as remove them from your view. You will not be able to contact each other unless you choose to unblock them.
• Report user accounts that appear to be scammer, cat-fishing, or pose a danger to your community.
Have A Talk About Your Sexual Intent Before A Meet
Do you require condoms or other STI preventative measures? What are your sexual boundaries? If you want to top, bottom, only do oral, side or mutual interaction, make that clear before you set up a meet. Establish your policy or tolerance around drug use or poppers. You should never go to meet a stranger or have them over if you haven’t explicitly stated and come to mutual understanding of these topics.
Strategically, having this conversation is also a great way to feel out whether a person is real or not, has good intentions, or is bad actor. Scammers, cat-fish, or people intending your harm usually don’t have the ability to go deep and detailed into these conversations. Beware of people that say yes to whatever you ask of them to get you onboard with meeting up ASAP.
Know Your Situational Risk Level
• You live in or visiting an area with increased violence or targeting of the LGBTQ community.
• You are not out to your family or at your workplace and subject to blackmail.
• You are in an area where being LGBTQ+ is illegal. Note that in some countries law enforcement has been known to use social media apps as tools for potential entrapment.
Use Of Dating App Location Features
Most apps allow you the choice of showing your distance or not in a grid or map view. Some allow adjustments to the accuracy so an approximate distance may be randomized. Use this appropriately relative to your comfort of being identified in person by others or by authorities.
Smoker of fine tires, eater of natural foods, connoisseur of aromatic leathers, pusher of limits.