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Online Dating Safety: Reveal your Personal Information Slowly

The fabulous multitude of online dating services offers terrific opportunities to meet your contemporary Romeo or Juliet. Unlike real world, face-to-face dating (and in the age of AIM, e-mail, and LOL, who wants to do that?), online dating provides a higher level of safety. Since you’re communicating from the comforts of your office or home, you can kick back in those comfy pajamas and screen potential suitors.

But just because you’re not actually sitting across from that suave lawyer or stunning underwear model, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful. While you may want to share personal information to get to know someone, treat the situation prudently. There may very well be a ton of extraordinary people online, but remember that the Internet is also rife with predators.

Never provide any type of personally identifiable information in your profile, email messages, or chat room conversations (name, address, phone number, etc.) Do you really want a stranger phoning you at home? Cue visions of heavy breathing and that creepy voice from the Scream movies. What’s your favorite scary movie? Not a good thing.

Take full advantage of communication tools provided by the dating website.

For the safest route, make sure to take full advantage of communication tools provided by the dating website. Most major sites include email and instant message services that make sure you do not have to use your own personal addresses and names to communicate.

Don’t be pressured into giving out your personal information. Start slowly, err on the side of safety, and listen to your instincts. Be on the lookout for odd behavior or inconsistencies. Guard your anonymity like it’s the Holy Grail. Only the worthy will earn their rewards. Let your online date earn your trust gradually, just like a suitor in real life should: through consistent honest and respectful behavior. If you feel uneasy about a situation, get up and walk away safely. Be responsible! Control your urges and don’t give in to what may seem like romance without making sure your man or woman is the real deal. The romance will come! The great thing about online dating is that there are plenty of fish in the sea. So be safe, and just keep swimming!

Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of CyberDating.net, it's staff or management. This free advice is for entertainment purposes only.