The dating app happen released a survey of users on security issues. The survey showed that 69% of people share sensitive information with flirts, such as personal information from the workplace, the places they go to, where they study and links to social networks.
Another risk that people here run is sharing their personal phone number: 38% prefer to take conversations to WhatsApp in the first few minutes of the chat. On the other hand, only 27% prefer to continue to get to know their partner better until the first date.
A curious fact from the survey is that 20% of users believe that safety depends on the behavior of the other and not on their own, a classic misunderstanding. On the other hand, 17% of respondents know that they are responsible for their own privacy and that behavior is critical. This type of attitude is not exclusive to US, as the British and French are much more “inconsequential”: only 7% and 10%, respectively, believe that security depends on themselves.
To help with this, happn has listed a list of attitudes for you to be safer in online flirting:
6. Don’t trust each other
More than half (57%) of people on the app believe that a week of contact is enough to share confidential information. This overconfidence means that there is not much security awareness in relationship tools.
Women tend to be more suspicious and are more cautious in general. Only 14% of survey respondents say they feel safe on dating apps, while the percentage rises to 43% among men. Most of them (61%) also usually let their friends know when they will meet as a safety measure, but only 28% of men do the same.
5. Tag in public places
There is an interesting consensus among the public: the survey found that the majority of both sexes prefer to have their first date in public — 98% of women and 89% of men. These people feel safer crushing (when both profiles like each other) than a certified profile (75% of women and 72% of men).
Adopting this practice does not prevent harassment or other types of situations, but it minimizes the chance. Shopping malls, squares, bars and restaurants are ideal destinations to find that crush, because they allow an easier request for help in case of a problem.
4. Give preference to certified profiles
The blue seal is not there by chance. It exists to show that person is real, because it has been verified beforehand. The photo, the personal information, all this is more assured for those who are certified. People search websites can reveal great deal of personal information based on a person’s name, phone number or email address.
happn recommends crushing profiles with this badge, because the chance of having problems is much lower than a stranger. The program recommends that people also apply for certification so that the other can talk to you without fear of coming across a fake on the other side.
3. Don’t be in a hurry for a date
Usually, internet conversations tend to evolve very quickly into a physical encounter, because people only show you the good side. However, you never know who is really on the other side, or if that person is ideal for your type.
happn suggests that people use the messaging section, make a lot of use of the digital flirting features, make video calls and exchange ideas in the audio chat for a while. Thus, it is possible to check if the person is the same as in the photos, get to know their tastes better, know how they talk and behave and, obviously, see if there is a chemistry.
2. Don’t reveal too much about yourself
Keeping an aura of mystery is always good for the others to discover some unknown things about you. If the person reveals everything in the online environment, there is little left for the other to discover face-to-face.
The app’s suggestion is to treat the other as a stranger, like that person who calls on your phone to ask for your CPF or your credit card number. Do not share any personal or sensitive information until we know you better.
You can chat for hours on end just about hobbies, favorite movies and series, musical style, sports and other topics that are not related to work. The place of work, the residential address and the college where you study can be left for after the face-to-face chemistry takes place.
1. Listen to your instinct
If you don’t feel comfortable on a date, just walk away. Nobody is forced to do absolutely anything they don’t want to, even if the other side is “supposedly” charming.
According to happn, the best tool is your instinct: if it says something is wrong, listen to it and get the hell out of there. The way you leave will depend on how things went: it could be a calm explanation that you didn’t hit that chemistry or just a “bye” before things got out of hand.