Using dating apps safely

In short: Dating apps connect people based on profiles, location, and interests, but also carry risks such as fake profiles or scams. Basic safety rules protect against the most common dangers.

In more detail: Most apps use algorithms to suggest profiles based on preferences and behaviour.

In detail

• Profile design: Don’t give full names, addresses, or workplaces in a public profile to protect privacy.
• Spotting fake profiles: Overly perfect photos, inconsistent information, or quickly pushing for personal data are warning signs.
• First meetings: A public place for the first meeting and informing a trusted person significantly increase safety.
• Romance scams: Scammers build emotional bonds over weeks in order to later ask for money.
• Location sharing: Many apps allow obscuring the exact location to make it harder to infer where someone lives.
• Verification: Photo verification features in some apps increase the likelihood of interacting with real people.
• Reporting and blocking: Inappropriate behaviour should be consistently reported using the app’s functions (social-media-und-psychische-gesundheit, netiquette-online-kommunikation).