Living:
Online dating: Six ways to protect
your privacy in cyberspace
Online dating is becoming more and more mainstream, as people from all walks of life plug
in and find their soul mate in cyberspace. Here are six tips to finding that special
someone while still maintaining your privacy and safety online.
1. Avoid large, public chat rooms where anything can (and does!) take place.
Some people frequent these areas just to
see what they can get away with.
Instead, focus on smaller, more
targeted web sites or chat rooms that match your interests or lifestyle.
There are many online dating
sites that cater to specific hobbies and several offer free trial memberships.
2. When you find a chat room, dating site, or forum that matches your interest, introduce
yourself with only as much information as you feel comfortable giving. Don’t plaster
your phone number, address or any other personal information on the site. Wait until you
meet someone with whom you truly “click” and have spoken to them for awhile.
Common sense and that “gut feeling” are great indicators for when something just
doesn’t seem quite right.
3. Participate in the forum or chat room regularly. Keep it
“low-key” until you start forming friendships with the regular members there. Be
honest, and be yourself – after all, being natural is what will endear you to a
particular mate.
4. Keep your correspondence limited to e-mail and chat until you
get to know the person well enough to feel comfortable sharing your phone number and
talking for the first time. If you need a good ice-breaker, start off the chat by talking
about the forum or chat room where you met and any special interests that brought you two
together.
5. If you decide to meet each other in person, choose a neutral,
public place. You may even choose a town or city that’s not the same as the one where
you live. Restaurants, parks, theaters and other public places where people gather often
are a good place to start. Alternately, you could choose to attend a special event in your
area together, perhaps a concert, festival or fair. Either way, let friends or family know
where you’re going and who you’re going with, as well as what time you’ll
be returning so they’ll know how and where to reach you.
6. If you’re interested in a few online “matches”
that come your way, consider setting up a post office box and a free e-mail account to
share information with each other. That way, if you come to find that you really
don’t “click” with this person, you won’t feel as if you’ve given
any personal contact information away.
If you follow these six tips, chances are you’ll have a
great time with your cyber date. Remember to be honest and be yourself! If you do, chances
are that you’ll find that perfect special someone who enjoys you for who you are!
