Internet dating is becoming a lot more mainstream, as folks from every walk of life connect and find their soul mate in cyberspace. So how do you protect yourself while trying to meet new people you may wish to date? Here are six tips to finding that special somebody while still preserving your privacy and safety online.
1. Avoid huge, public chat rooms where anything can (and usually does!) happen. Some users frequent these areas just to see what they can get away with. Instead, choose smaller, more targeted web internet sites or chat rooms that match your interests or life-style. There are many internet dating sites that cater to particular hobbies and several offer free trial memberships.
2. Once you find a chat room, dating site, or forum that meets your interest, introduce yourself with only as much information as you feel comfortable presenting. Do not plaster your telephone number, address or any other private information on the site. Hold off until you encounter somebody with whom you truly "click" and have talked to them for a while. Common sense and that "gut feeling" are outstanding indicators for when something just does not feel quite right.
3. Participate in the discussion board or chat room on a regular basis. Keep it "low-key" until you begin making friendships with the regular members there. Be honest, and be yourself - after all, being natural is what will endear you to a particular partner.
4. Keep your correspondence confined to e-mail and chat until you get to know the individual well enough to feel comfortable sharing your phone number and speaking for the first time. If you need a good ice-breaker, begin the chat by discussing the forum or chat room where you met and any particular interests that brought you together.
5. If you choose to meet one another in person, choose a neutral, public place. You may even choose a town or city that is not the same as the one where you dwell. Restaurants, parks, theaters and other public locates where folks meet frequently are a good place to begin. Alternately, you could decide to attend a special event in your area together, possibly a concert, festival or fair. Either way, let family or friends know where you are going and who you are going with, as well as what time you will be coming back so they will know how and where to contact you.
6. If you are interested in several online "matches" that come your way, look at setting up a post office box and a free e-mail account to share information with each other. That way, if you come to discover that you really do not "click" with this individual, you will not feel as though you have given any personal contact information away.
If you stick with these six tips, chances are you will have a wonderful time with your cyber date. Remember to be honest and be yourself! If you do, probabilities are that you will discover that idealized special somebody who relishes you for who you are! Oh, and you will be having a lot of fun too, while keeping yourself safe online.
About the Author
Kelly Jones, better known as blushgirl has been in the online dating scene since 1996. Her experience in the field helps her answer questions on romance and relationships for her site visitors and allows her to meticulously review dating and matchmaking sites. Kelly has provided a guide to the best online dating sites on the Internet right now at: http://www.squidoo.com/adult-dating-sites
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