Remember the days when people generally thought of the internet as a breeding ground for perverts and shut-ins?  There was a huge stigma around online dating.  Today the internet population is growing worldwide at a steady rate and it isn’t uncommon to find a date online and meet up in the “real world.”  People have found their soul-mates this way.

Although online dating has become a more mainstream activity, you should still excercise safety when you are meeting your date in person.  I don’t have to tell you the worse that could happen, but I would like to provide you with some online dating advice specifically for women.

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You may have talked to this person online and feel like you know him well but do you really know him?  For the first meeting it’s best to be cautious.  Don’t give your date your full name and home address right away and give him your cell phone only for contact.  On the first date there is no need to start the date at either of your homes.  Arrange to meet in a public place.

Let somebody know what you are doing and who you are going out with.  That person should also know when to expect you home.  Tell your friend as much as you know about your date and take the time to check in with someone during your date.  He should understand why you would do such a thing and if he is overly defensive about it, that may be a red-flag.

Start filtering your choices early.  You will probably get a different result if you are cruising seedy chat rooms looking for a “date” than you would if you used a reputable dating site.  At the very least using a dating service will make filtering your choices easier.  Some are even free for women to use.  Whether you use a membership site or not the rules for safe online dating still apply.

Another thing you might want to do is Google your date.  This may seem extreme to some of you but some women wouldn’t go on that first date without it.  It’s up to you if you want to do an internet on your date or not but you should know at least a little about who he is.

In case your date is truly awful, you can plan your escape beforehand.  A friend of mine sets up a code word with a friend before a first date.  She calls her friend up, drops the code word and announces to her date that she has an emergency and that she must leave.  A bad date is also a reason to have your own transportation.  In fact, even if your date is going well and you want to move to a second location, take separate cars or go somewhere within walking distance.  Again, your date should be respectful of your choice to do this.

Please just use your common sense and know that it’s okay to be cautious when you bring you online dating into the real world.  To recap: meet in public, know your date, and be safe.

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