The search for love has changed drastically over the years, and it’s no surprise that the digital age has brought on a wave of couples connecting online – even more so amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan ‘fact tank’ in Washington D.C. that informs the public about the issues, attitudes, and trends that shape the world, “30% of U.S. adults say they have used a dating site or app. A majority of online daters say their overall experience was positive, but many users – particularly younger women – report being harassed or sent explicit messages on these platforms.” And according to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, “More than 40 million Americans use online dating services or dating apps.”
While many college students still dream of naturally meeting their significant other at a bar, bookstore, coffee shop, or on campus, dating apps have made it much more convenient to meet hundreds of people online with one simple right swipe. As online dating becomes the new norm, Parkland College’s Center for Student Life hosted an Online Dating Safety event, where students were able to stop by and learn tips to stay safe, identify good versus bad profiles, find the profile style that best suits you, view sample profiles, and learn more about the safety features various online dating platforms have adapted to help prevent harassment, abuse, and manipulation from occurring.
With major stories like Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler, the story of Shimon Hayut, who allegedly ran a multinational con, manipulating victims into taking out bigger and bigger loans for him until they had nothing, the conversation surrounding safety with online dating has become highlighted in the media. It is important to know that there are risks involved with online dating and to understand that there are many safety tips and resources available to you to increase your safety when meeting someone, anytime, online.
Parkland’s “Learn Safer Ways to Match” booth had posters that offered the following five red flags to look for when entering the online dating scene:
- When someone wants to only meet in private
- When someone recently got out of a relationship
- Only one photo present on their profile
- When someone only wants to talk via text
- Immediately sends explicit messages
The booth also presented students with a list of safety features that the most popular dating services have added to their apps to help protect their users:
| Tinder |
|---|
| Has a built-in panic button that allows users to signal local authorities of their location |
| Offers a “Tinder Timeline” which allows users to manually enter the date, time, and location of an upcoming meeting |
| Verifies users and adds a blue check-mark next to profiles who verify their identity by taking photos that match a series of sample poses |
| Hinge |
|---|
| Limits the number of profiles a person can like to 10 |
| Reporting features |
| Offers a “First Date Check-In” which allows users to complete a survey after a first date with another user |
| Bumble |
|---|
| Photo verification |
| In-app audio and video calling allows users to communicate without giving personal information |
| Offers a “Private Detector” to prevent unwanted photos |
| Her |
|---|
| Criteria check that requires a photo ID and active social media account |
| Sign-up verification which can take 3-4 days to get verified to use the app |
| Offers an incognito mode that allows users to use the app without exposing their identity. |
Students were also able to pick up brochures on partner violence, consent, and sexual assault, providing them with knowledge on what consent and abuse look like and resources to support anyone who may experience sexual or physical assault. To learn more about online dating safety, visit Get Safe Online for the best safety tips from qualified professionals.
