Are dating sites safe for real meetings? 

Very few people who use dating sites consider them only for online communication. Most users need them to find someone for real dating. So, after an online dating stage, sooner or later, people start thinking about meeting in real life. And even if everything has been perfect and smooth and you have a great time via online chat, it doesn’t mean yet that you shouldn’t forget about safety measures. I don’t doubt the online dating safety, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. So, when taking a decision to move from online to real dating, you need to prepare for the first date well and thoroughly.

1. Make it formal

Even if you have been chatting online for many months, and you know probably everything about this person, including many moments of life that people usually do not share at once, you still should not rush the events, no matter how hard you want to make a huge step forward. Your first non-virtual date should be formal, no exclusions. Choose a crowded place for the first date, for example, a restaurant, cinema, exhibition, or agree to meet in a park and spend time there. Do not invite a person to your home nor accept an invitation to visit her house.

2. Inform your friends where you are going

I know that it may seem like too much for just a date, but you are going to meet a person you have never seen in real life. And informing a friend that you are going for a date with an online match is an absolutely right decision. Besides, most dating sites recommend to do it.

3. Leave if you feel uncomfortable

Your real date may significantly differ from the online ones that you had before. So, if you see that your virtual partner is not the person you know so well online, you’d better end this date. Not all online dates should go real. Sometimes, it’s better to leave things as they are and continue communication online.

4. Avoid alcohol

Do not drink alcohol on the first date. Even if you feel a bit nervous and you know that a little alcohol will help you to relax and calm down. I still recommend you to avoid drinking because you may either create a wrong image of yourself and spoil the date anyways or simply make mistakes.

So, how safe is online dating? I’d say that online dating is 100% safe in case you do not neglect the basic rules which work not only for virtual dating but also for the real-world one. Do not rush events, take your time, avoid conversations about money, do not send or buy gifts on request, and do not share personal things about you unless you are sure you know a person well enough.