How to Protect Yourself from Online Harassment

Dating apps may assist you in finding your ideal spouse or your next date. Learn how to fight harassment and safeguard your personal information.

What you will discover:

How do dating services make use of the data they collect?
How can I defend myself against online harassment?
What can I do if a dating service uses my personal information inappropriately?
How can I protect myself from data breaches at online dating services?

Year after year, the popularity of online dating grows. There seems to be a website or app for almost everyone. But are they safe? A shocking proportion of online dating service customers have been harassed. Continue reading to discover how to protect yourself against harassment or abuse of your personal information on online dating sites.

How do dating services make use of the data they collect?

Dating agencies guarantee that they will find you love. However, they also collect and share your personal data in unexpected ways.

It all begins when you create your account or profile. Depending on the Terms & Conditions and Online Privacy Policy of a site, you may be consenting to enable the service to use the information you submit for purposes other than establishing a match. Dating apps and services often exploit user information for marketing reasons. Some may even sell information to third parties. This may include your images, videos, name, gender, location, sexual orientation, likes, loves, winks, smiles, swipes, and other information. In addition, some online dating services gather comments from you after a date, which the corporation may use to enhance your match rate or for other purposes.

You might link your dating profile to your social media profiles. If you do, the dating app may have access to the information in those accounts. This information can help you find a match, but it can also be used for marketing or other purposes. If you are worried about how your information may be used, you should read the small print.

How can I defend myself against online harassment?

Many users of dating sites or apps have reported harassment, particularly young women and people from marginalized groups. With so much personal data available, online abuse may often convert into real harassment, which can be even more frightening.

Here are some suggestions to help you avoid harassment:

Use no identifying information in your username or bio when creating an account or profile. This includes any aspect of your true name or date of birth. For example, if your name is Mary Smith and you were born in 1989, the username MaryS89 is probably not a good option.
Use a secure password that is unrelated to your personal information. A pet’s name, for example, is often too obvious to others.
Avoid utilizing images or videos that you have already utilized on social media networks. It is not a good idea to use the same headshot you used on your Facebook page on your dating profile. Other users may be able to discover your social media profile based on that image, giving them access to further information about you.
Do not give out too much information too quickly. Give more information via direct message or chat only when you are comfortable doing so.
Look for your matches on social media, in news stories, or via an internet search. You may wish to do a reverse image search, such as those provided by Google or Bing, to ensure you are not being catfished or duped by an imitation.
If you want to meet your match in person, bring your own vehicle or organize your own transportation to the meeting location. Take out your phone and notify someone of your location and expected return time. Choose a public location for your meeting and never provide your home address unless you are completely comfortable.
People who ask for money, claim their spouse died recently, or want to get too close too soon should be avoided.
Always go with your gut instinct. It is usually correct.

You can defend yourself if you are being harassed or cannot get rid of an online dating predator. You may, for example, save messages, take pictures, or maintain notes on dates, places, and annoying events to document everything they say or do to you. You may also disable them. You may block them on social media and your phone if they discover you outside of the dating app. Depending on the severity of the harassment, you may wish to call the police to report it.

Another prudent step is to review the site’s terms of service to determine whether they define prohibited sorts of activity. You may be able to report their conduct to the dating app or site, and a screenshot of the complaint is recommended. You might request that the harasser be removed from the platform.

If the app or service is no longer useful, you should cancel your subscription or membership and ask that your personal information be deleted from their website.

Other resources, such as tips for recording harassment, are available from the National Network to End Domestic Violence. You may want to consult with a lawyer about your state’s laws on internet harassment and abuse. If the harasser is violating any laws, you may be able to get a restraining order, have the police stop them, or launch a legal case against them.

What can I do if a dating service uses my personal information inappropriately?

You may discover that a dating service exploited your personal information in an unexpected manner. For example, online dating services may utilize your profile for marketing or your photos for ads without your permission.

If this occurs, check the dating site’s FAQs, help area, or policies to see if they have a complaint mechanism, and then make a complaint using that approach. In your complaint, request that the site erase the stolen information. Notably, most dating app policies allow the service to use whatever content is posted on the site at their discretion. Some apps may allow users to opt out of specific uses, but this setting may need to be changed after they sign up.

If there is no complaint method, or if the service refuses to cooperate or assist, you may choose to seek the assistance of a lawyer.

How can I protect myself from data breaches at online dating services?

Online dating, like many other online services, is not necessarily as safe as you may expect. Without security precautions such as HTTPS and an SSL certificate, new or tiny specialized services may function. Some may be vulnerable to hackers, unpatched system holes, and other flaws. As a consequence, the personal information you give may be exposed during a data breach.

Many services allow users to customize how their information is shared with others. Understanding the different alternatives may assist you in deciding which service to utilize, as well as how much and what to disclose.

Here are some methods for protecting your personal information from breaches:

Before creating a profile, do some research on the service. Look at previous data breaches and what steps were taken to address them. Find out how the dating service saves and safeguards data so you know how your information is safeguarded.
Be wary of in-app purchases that do not seem to be related to a dating app. This might be a hacker’s ploy.
Check if the site is safe, using an HTTPS protocol and an SSL certificate.
To improve security, change your password every one to three months. Also, make sure your security questions require information that is difficult to obtain.

It is also a good idea to monitor your credit record to ensure that you have not been a victim of identity theft. Some credit bureaus will notify you if a new account is opened or if an inquiry is made.