You may have downloaded the dating app, Tinder, to scope out the cuties on campus. As you may know, Tinder is a pretty easy to use app where you simply view the names, photos, and ages of various people in your area. You swipe right or left depending on if you approve of them or not. You can do this for hours! When you swipe right after viewing someone’s photo(s) on Tinder, it means that you approve of him or her or think they’re attractive. If the person also swipes right on your photo(s), you two then become a “match.” You then can message each other and see where that takes you!
Meeting new people is always fun, but online dating can be tricky! It’s important to remember that your safety comes first when interacting with someone you have never met before. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself while still having fun!
1. On Tinder, you can view a person’s name, age, pictures, proximity to you, and a brief bio. This may seem like a good amount of information, but it’s also a good idea to search for the person on social media to validate their identity. You don’t want to get catfished! We even recommend putting their name in Google and seeing what pops up to make sure that the information they have given you matches what’s on the Internet.
2. When meeting in person, make sure it’s in a public place during the daytime. Grabbing a cup of coffee or hanging out at the library where there are likely to be people around is the safest way to go. In the event that the date were to go south quickly, there would be many bodies around to make you feel more comfortable because, after all, there is safety in numbers.
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3. Before heading out to meet your match, make sure to always tell a friend or roommate where you are going, what time, and text them if the location changes. It’s important that someone knows your whereabouts in case you need help and/or want to be picked up.
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4. When having a conversation on Tinder, it can easily go from 0 to 100 real quick. Many times sexually explicit messages and content will be sent and it can make some people very uncomfortable. If you ever feel uneasy, “unmatch” the person right away. By doing so, they will no longer be able to message you. Never keep a conversation going that makes you sick to your stomach.
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5. Don’t give out too much information until you are comfortable and ready. Exchanging favorite bands, your mutual love of Chipotle, and embarrassing stories from middle school are totally okay, but be careful about revealing sensitive information such as, your address, phone number, or the fact that you’re alone in bed. Also, never ever give out your bank account information or Social Security number—there are freaks out there who try to steal identities as well as money and you want to keep that information as private as possible.
Remember that it’s alright to swipe right on that hot guy and strike up a conversation with him, but just keep in mind that your safety is worth more than any Tinder match! Havefun and stay safe, collegiettes!