“Loneliness is my least favorite thing about life.
The thing that I’m most worried about is just being alone without
anybody to care for or someone who will care for me.” ~ Anne Hathaway
Many people feel what actor Anne Hathaway has expressed. When a person is feeling isolated, the world of cyberspace may be an even bigger draw for finding a relationship. The question is, what should we consider before engaging in online dating? The more informed you are before making any decision, the better your decision making process will be - knowledge is power.
Here are some online dating user statistics presented by an online security company:
Many users – particularly younger women – report being harassed or sent uninvited explicit messages on these platforms.
55% of people that date online have experienced some form of threat or problem – ranging from IT security incidents to meeting up with people that didn't turn out to be who they claimed, or being rejected by potential matches.
57% of online daters admitted they lie, most of whom (67%) turned out to be married men. (kaspersky.com)
The most popular things to lie about include their names, marital status, location and appearance – such as showing fake photos. (kaspersky.com)
In 2019, there were 69.1million images and videos exploiting young people reported. (cybertipline.org)
Safe Practices:
Always be tech savvy - high security passwords, limit personal info (ie. do not give your address, passwords, or any info that can be used to access your personal data)
Do not be quick to trust - be mindful of the stats above. For more info on tactics of online predators visit https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/sextortion
Rely on your circle - keeping secrets about activities, struggles and relationships from family makes a person vulnerable, but relying on those closest to us can keep us safe.
Let go of unhealthy relationships - healthy relationships do not seek to control, isolate, harass, or pressure you into doing things that make you uncomfortable.
If ANYTHING makes you uncomfortable, talk about it with the people in your life who can help you. Gaining independence doesn’t require isolation.
Remember - WHATEVER YOU SEND, CAN BE SAVED! Avoid regret and never send any messages or photos that can be used to harm or exploit you, your family, or friends. NO ONE is worth that risk.
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https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/02/06/the-virtues-and-downsides-of-online-dating/
https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/online-dating-report/