Meeting new people is exciting, but you should always be cautious when interacting with someone you don’t know. Use your best judgment and put your safety first, whether you are exchanging initial messages or meeting in person. While you can’t control the actions of others, there are things you can do to help you stay safe during your online dating experience.
Can you recommend some internet dating tips?
BIRDS.APP is a great place to meet people for friendship, dating, and fun time. We hope that your experiences with other members will be fun and fulfilling and may result in finding the one you could spend the rest of your lives together.
Although we strive to provide a safe environment for our members, not every encounter will be friendly and safe. We strongly encourage you to always use caution and common sense when using BronyMate.com, especially when meeting anyone in person.
Please read through these important safety tips. They have been provided to help you protect yourself both online and offline.
- Always use good judgement and take precautionary measures when communicating and/or meeting any stranger.
- Your dating profile should never list your full or last name, personal e-mail address, home address, home or cell number, where you work, or any other private personal information that could make it easy to identify you. Always use caution in giving out any personal information in your private messages. Never continue to communicate with anyone who pressures you for personal or financial information, or attempts, in any way, to trick you into revealing it. Please report such incidents to us using the Contact Us link found in the footer of the website.
- It is important to get to know as much as you can about a possible date or hookup before you meet in person. A way to do this is to read their profile carefully, and be sure that what is posted on their profile matches what they are saying to you and that you like what they say. Ask direct questions and listen for inconsistencies. Ask for their full name, where they live and work, what they like and do not like. You can learn a lot about a person by the way they communicate.
- Block any member that treats you in an abusive way and report the member to us immediately. The Report link can be found in all messages and everyone's profile.
- If you decide to have a real meeting with another member from our dating site (or any dating site), always tell a friend or family member where you are going and when you will be back. Always plan first meetings in a public well-lit area, where other people are nearby. Never give a stranger your personal address or invite them to your home. Always organise your own personal transportation to and from the date. Do not agree to any transportation services offered by someone you have never met before.
- Please be advised that BIRDS.APP does not conduct criminal background checks or screening. Anyone who is able to commit identity theft can also set up a fake dating profile.
- Stay on BIRDS.APP. Be wary of members that want to take your conversation somewhere else. Wait until a comfort level is established between members. We advise members to remain on our site and to use our direct messaging and instant chat features to communicate before giving any information to be contacted off our site. Remember that your chats with other members that take place outside of our website (for example via phone calls, video calls, or to meet in real life) are not interactions that we would be able to monitor or review for suspicious activity. Keep your interactions on our website until you feel you can trust someone to not misuse your information (for example your phone number, address, or personal videos/photos).
- A photograph will teach you a lot about a person, and can often compliment or contradict what they have told you. You should never feel shy about asking for pictures. If a person refuses to supply one, you may be right to think they were hiding something.
- Protect your privacy. Remain anonymous until you feel safe. Be cautious about revealing information that could identify you. Remember that if you give someone a piece of your personal information, such as your phone number or email address, they may be able to use Internet search sites to get your full name, street address or other personal information that might make you vulnerable to identity theft or stalkers. If you want to give someone your real name, e-mail address, phone number, or any other personally identifying information you should also ask the member to provide you with the same information about them. Use the information they have provided to confirm that the information you have is valid. If you would like to know more about someone before you meet them, then we suggest that you use Internet search tools or conduct a background check to obtain more information on them.
- Secure your login information. Use caution when accessing you account from a public or shared computer. Do not allow your password or screen name to be stored on a public computer. If you share your computer at home, you should disable browser features that save user names and passwords, delete your browsing history, and empty your cache after using the site. Never give anyone your password for any website no matter what they tell you. If someone asks you for your password, you may report them. If you think someone knows your password, go to Settings >> Change Password and change it ASAP. If you believe someone obtained your password through your personal email account, you should immediately change the password to your email account and the password to your profile on this site too. We always recommend everyone NOT use the same password as their email to register on dating or social media websites.
- Protect yourself from fraud. Never share personal or financial information with people you have met online or that you do not know very well. Do not send money to online acquaintances, especially by wire transfer because wire transfers are similar to sending cash. Do not give out any credit card information or your identification numbers such as a social security number.
- Be wary of long-distance and overseas relationships. Watch out for scammers who claim to be from your country but claim that they are stuck somewhere else, especially if they request financial help to return home or for medical procedures. Be wary of anyone who will not meet in person or talk on a phone/video call—they may not be who they say they are. If someone is avoiding your questions or pushing for a serious relationship without meeting or getting to know you first.
- Report all suspicious and offensive behavior. You know when someone’s crossed the line and when they do, we want to know about it. Block and report anyone who violates our terms. Here are some examples of violations:
- Harassment, threats, and offensive messages
- Inappropriate or harmful behavior.
- Underage users
- Fraudulent profiles
- Spam links to websites or attempts to sell products or services
- Requests for money or donations
You can report any concerns about suspicious behavior from any profile page/message or using the Contact Us link found in the footer of the website.
Online Safety
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Never Send Money or Share Financial Information
Never send money, especially over wire transfer, even if the person claims to be in an emergency. Wiring money is like sending cash — it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace where the money went. Never share information that could be used to access your financial accounts. If another user asks you for money, report it to us immediately.
For tips on avoiding romance scams, check out some advice from the U.S Federal Trade Commission on the FTC website or in the video below.
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Protect Your Personal Information
Never share personal information, such as your social security number, home or work address, or details about your daily routine (e.g., that you go to a certain gym every Monday) with people you don’t know. If you are a parent, limit the information that you share about your children on your profile and in early communications. Avoid sharing details such as your children’s names, where they go to school, or their ages or genders.
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Stay on the Platform
Keep conversations on the Match platform while you’re getting to know someone. Users with bad intentions often try to move the conversation to text, messaging apps, email, or phone right away.
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Be Wary of Long Distance and Overseas Relationships
Watch out for scammers who claim to be from your country but stuck somewhere else, especially if they ask for financial help to return home. Be wary of anyone who will not meet in person or talk on a phone/video call—they may not be who they say they are. If someone is avoiding your questions or pushing for a serious relationship without meeting or getting to know you first — that’s a red flag.+
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Report All Suspicious and Offensive Behavior
You know when someone’s crossed the line and when they do, we want to know about it. Block and report anyone that violates our terms. Here are some examples of violations:
- Requests for money or donations
- Underage users
- Harassment, threats, and offensive messages
- Inappropriate or harmful behavior during or after meeting in person
- Fraudulent profiles
- Spam or solicitation including links to commercial websites or attempts to sell products or services
You can report any concerns about suspicious behavior from any profile page or messaging window or here.
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Protect Your Account
Be sure to pick a strong password, and always be careful when logging into your account from a public or shared computer. Match will never send you an email asking for your username and password information — if you receive an email asking for account information, report it immediately.
Meeting in Person
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Don’t Be In A Rush
Take your time and get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or chat off Match. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to screen for any red flags or personal dealbreakers. A phone or video call can be a useful screening tool before meeting.
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Meet in Public and Stay in Public
Meet for the first few times in a populated, public place — never at your home, your date’s home, or any other private location. If your date pressures you to go to a private location, end the date.
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Tell Friends and Family About Your Plans
Tell a friend or family member of your plans, including when and where you’re going. Have your cell phone charged and with you at all times.
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Be in Control of Your Transportation
We want you to be in control of how you get to and from your date so that you can leave whenever you want. If you’re driving yourself, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan such as a ride-share app or a friend to pick you up.
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Know Your Limits
Be aware of the effects of drugs or alcohol on you specifically — they can impair your judgment and your alertness. If your date tries to pressure you to use drugs or drink more than you’re comfortable with, hold your ground and end the date.
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Don’t Leave Drinks or Personal Items Unattended
Know where your drink comes from and know where it is at all times — only accept drinks poured or served directly from the bartender or server. Many substances that are slipped into drinks to facilitate sexual assault are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Also, keep your phone, purse, wallet, and anything containing personal information on you at all times.
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If You Feel Uncomfortable, Leave
It’s okay to end the date early if you’re feeling uncomfortable. In fact, it’s encouraged. And if your instincts are telling you something is off or you feel unsafe, ask the bartender or server for help.
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LGBTQ+ Travel
Be careful while traveling. We recognize and believe in the importance of being inclusive of all gender identities and sexual orientations, but the reality is this: nowhere in the world is without potential risk, and some countries have specific laws that target LGBTQ+ people. Check out the laws around you when you travel to a new place and research what types of legal protection, if any, are available to you based on sexual orientation. In the event that you’re in unsafe territory, we suggest that you do not log into your Match account while you are there. If you choose to log in, you should place your profile in Hidden or Private Mode.
It’s important to exercise extra caution if you choose to connect with new people in these countries - as some law enforcement have been known to use dating apps as tools for potential entrapment. Some countries have also recently introduced laws that criminalize communications between individuals on same-sex dating applications or websites and even aggravate penalties if that communication leads to sexual encounters. Visit ILGA World to see the latest sexual orientation laws by country, and consider donating to support their research. Source: visiILGA World, Updated March 2019
Sexual Health & Consent
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Protect Yourself
When used correctly and consistently, condoms can significantly reduce the risk of contracting and passing on STI’s like HIV. But, be aware of STIs like herpes or HPV that can be passed on through skin-to-skin contact. The risk of contracting some STIs can be reduced through vaccination.
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Know Your Status
Not all STIs show symptoms, and you don’t want to be in the dark about your status. Stay on top of your health and prevent the spread of STIs by getting tested regularly. Here’s where you can find a clinic near you (US only).
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Talk About It
Communication is everything: Before you get physically intimate with a partner, talk about sexual health and STI testing. And be aware — in some places, it’s actually a crime to knowingly pass on an STI. Need help starting the conversation? Here are some tips.
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Consent
All sexual activity must start with consent and should include ongoing check-ins with your partner. Verbal communication can help you and your partner ensure that you respect each other’s boundaries. Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and sex is never owed to anyone. Do not proceed if your partner seems uncomfortable or unsure, or if your partner is unable to consent due to the effects of drugs or alcohol. Read more about it here.
Resources for Help, Support, or Advice
Remember — even if you follow these tips, no method of risk reduction is perfect. If you have a negative experience, please know that it is not your fault and help is available. Report any incidents here, and consider reaching out to one of the resources below. If you feel you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance, call 911 (U.S. or Canada) or your local law enforcement agency.
RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673) | online.rainn.org | www.rainn.org
Planned Parenthood
1-800-230-7526 | www.plannedparenthood.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 | www.thehotline.org
National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 | www.humantraffickinghotline.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
1-877-739-3895 | www.nsvrc.org
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678) | www.cybertipline.com
Cyber Civil Rights Initiative
1-844-878-2274 | www.cybercivilrights.org
VictimConnect - Crime Victim Resource Center
1-855-4VICTIM (855-484-2846) | www.victimconnect.org
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
LGBT National Help Center
1-888-843-4564 | www.glbtnationalhelpcenter.org
Trans Lifeline
1-877-565-8860 (US) or 1-877-330-6366 (CA) | www.translifeline.org
If you are outside the US:
- Click here for information regarding international sexual orientation laws from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA).