Internet Dating

Online dating can be a great way to meet people that you wouldn’t otherwise meet, and is becoming increasingly popular even among GLBTT* communities. However, there is a lot that can go wrong with online dating, so we’ve included a list of things to be aware of if this is how you are going to meet people.

• Go with your gut. Just as in regular conversations where you get an intuitive sense of a person based on things that you can’t explain, you can do the same online. If something seems not quite right, back off a bit or keep your distance, even if you can’t pinpoint what seems off. Your intuition is usually pretty accurate.
• The anonymity of the internet can make us more likely to say personal and intimate things, which can make holding back information seem like you’re going at a snail’s pace when you’re online. You can always reveal more information as you get to trust someone, but you can never take back information once you’ve revealed it.
• Sometimes people use online dating sites as a way of taking advantage of younger, less-informed, or questioning people who are vulnerable to influence. Inform yourself, and let someone else know what’s going on as it happens, even if that person is a counselor or someone who you can count on to keep your explorations private.
• Since people can remain completely anonymous using screen names, if you test positive for an STI after meeting up with someone, public health nurses have no way of contacting the person to inform them and to prevent another person from getting infected (See Testing STI Positive). Unfortunately, many new HIV-positive cases can be traced back to an online dating site, and it only takes one or two people to make the benefits of online dating extremely risky.
• If you decide to meet up with someone that you’ve been chatting with online, it’s a good idea to meet first in a public place before going anywhere private, and save bringing the person home for a later date once you have built up more trust. Let a friend know where you’re going and how long you expect to be gone. Arrange a follow-up call so your friend will be able to get help for you if you don’t get in touch with them.