10 First Date Safety Tips Everyone Must Know

There are just some small things you can do to give you more confidence that you’re headed into this first date with a safety net. If I then don’t have a good time on the date, I’ve got a reason to leave. I can’t stay for any longer because of that thing I have to do. I’ll send the awkward “It’s not you, it’s me,” message later on. This creates a positive feedback loop ∗ trust fosters more positive interaction, which in turn deepens trust.

Not only will this decrease your chances of being put in an unsafe situation, but other people may also remember you being in that location, in the event something does happen to you. Always let roommates, friends and family members know when you plan to go out on a date. Give all the proper information about where you are going, who you’re going with (including your date’s name and phone number) and when you expect to be home. If anything changes regarding your whereabouts during the course of the evening, let them know right away. Plus, having your own transportation to and from the date ensures that you can leave if you get uncomfortable or need to go for any reason. If you take public transportation, make sure to have enough money on you to get home on your own.

Safety First: How To Stay Safe On The First Date

Settling for meh will just make you unhappy in the long run. Men (or any gender) aren’t polite when they push for something that you’re not happy with. They aren’t polite when they’re calling you frigid for saying no, or a slag for saying yes.

Don’t tell this man what company you work for, what school you go to, and don’t mention any of your friends names to him. Though it can be rude to text during a date, be sure to text either a friend or family member once you arrive for the date, sometime during the date, and after the date. If you head to the bathroom, don’t think twice about sending a friend a text with a quick note about how things are going.

• You’re going to be close enough to another human where they will be able to see your hands and your fingernails.
• Going to the bar can seem like an easy date activity, but for the first meeting you might want to stay dry.
• Give all the specific information about where you are meeting, who you’re going with (ideally including your date’s name and phone number) and when you expect to be home.
• I thoroughly suggest looking through the local court records and call local authorities to be sure they have never heard of him as well.

Do Some Online Vetting

Let’s face it, alcohol lowers your inhibitions and can make you do things you wouldn’t usually. So stay on the safe side and alternate your drinks with non-alcoholic ones. (Or don’t drink at all – check out my blog on dating sober for more on that). Always let flatmates, friends and family know when you plan to go out on a date. Give all the specific information about where you are meeting, who you’re going with (ideally including your date’s name and phone number) and when you expect to be home.

The effectiveness of this process is mediated by a range of internal and external factors, making it a highly individualized and context-dependent experience. The goal is to use assertive communication to establish a dynamic of equality and mutual respect. This involves not just speaking your mind, but also listening actively and observing how your date communicates with you and with others, such as service www.thebravodate.com staff.

You might tense up at the thought of making small talk with a stranger. Or maybe you’re replaying that awful date that ended with having your mom send you a fake emergency text (no judgment—we’ve all been there). You’re pumped—ready to get out there, have some fun, and meet someone new. «It’s sad we have to be mindful of that in this world, but we know we have a lot of personal information that can be very valuable to people and sometimes can be used against us.» Knowing that someone else knows where you are going can give you a sense of security and make you feel more at ease during your date. Sharing the details with a friend or family member can help build excitement for the upcoming outing, too.

She says even how they treat the waitstaff, if you’re meeting at a restaurant, can be a good gauge. «We can create a little bit more safety by being able to trust ourselves. «A black or brown person might experience racism or microaggressions on the app.» Certain communities will be more at risk online, for example, people of colour and people with disability, says Kassandra Mourikis.

A year on from a divorce or long-term relationship breakup is about the right time to enter the dating world, says Auckland sex therapist Jo Robertson. Both people involved in a date are responsible for creating a safe environment, says sex and relationship therapist Kassandra Mourikis. Meeting someone new for the first time can be fun and exciting, but also risky. Here at Wisp, we take safety seriously, which is why every profile is verified, and we have strict guidelines in place to stop harassment and inappropriate behaviour towards our users. If you want to make sure the date is safe, you need to be safe while you’re in the online phase, too. If you want to, you can turn on your phone’s location sharing with that person so they can track your whereabouts in case of emergency.

We also recommend picking the place if you’re having some anxiety about meeting your date for the first time. All profiles are verified, and we have strict guidelines on inappropriate behaviour so that you can feel safe on Wisp. But taking precautions to ensure you’re safe during this first date isn’t one of those things you should just brush over. It would be weird to drop the, “Oh, I have a thing to do,” right there.

If you’re going somewhere on your first date that you’ve never been before, you’re going to want to scout out the location beforehand if you can. This doesn’t mean that you have to go have drinks at the bar or get coffee from the coffee shop, but at least drive by and peek in the window. Have a plan about where you are going, when you are going, and any other details that need to be covered to make for a great date. If you’ve read any of our other articles, you know that we say first dates are not about impressing the other person, but they’re about finding out if there is compatibility.

They’re not polite at all when they’re forcing you to ignore your boundaries. By speaking on a video call before the date, you’ll get a sense of whether they truly are who they say they are. If they’re using twenty-year-old photos on their profile, you’ll see that when you video call them. If they’re someone else entirely, they probably won’t want to video call you at all, and the same goes for scammers, assholes, married ones, and other baddies you’d rather avoid. Googling/social stalking your date could also reveal hidden wives/partners/families, lies about jobs/trips/cars/etc.

When you head out to meet a date IRL for the first time, tell one of your buddies where you’re going and who you’ll be meeting. Making sure someone knows where you are is a basic necessity. Some online dating apps will ask you to comment whether you’ve met your matches in person or not after some time has passed. This is typically a survey to help improve their algorithm and collect research on users’ experiences. Once you’ve established your online safety boundaries, it’s time to consider your physical safety in preparation for the first date. It’s always a good idea to refresh on dating safety practices before going on any dates.

We’re going to cover literally everything you need to do to ensure that you’re ready for your first date and that it goes off without a hitch. Connected to rule number 1 to meet in a public place, it’s important that your date doesn’t know where you live until you get to know and trust them. Thinking about how you’re going to get home is a wise move. I wouldn’t advise accepting a lift from your date (yes, even if it’s convenient). Be confident about how you are getting home and Uber it, drive your own car or make sure you know the last Tube times!

A person who is genuinely interested in getting to know you will respect these limits. Put a premium on privacy “You really want to be guarded with your personal information,” says Amy Nofziger, director of fraud victim support at AARP. Don’t disclose your work or home address, your Social Security number, your credit card number or any details about your banking accounts, warns dating service Match. Experts also say to edit out any identifying information in photos, such as a home address or license plate number.

Call a friend or loved one, book yourself a cab, or run. Always meet someone for the first time in a public place, preferably with people around. Cafes, restaurants, attractions and landmarks – there are plenty of perfect public places to go for your first date, even on a budget.

No matter how comfortable you feel about meeting your date for the first time, there are a few tried-and-true ways to keep yourself as safe as possible. Online dating is a unique experience for everyone who participates, so there is no set timeline on when you should expect to meet in person for the first time. Several innovative safety apps cater specifically to dating scenarios, offering a range of features designed to prioritize your security and comfort during first-date encounters.