So, you’ve met someone on CMB and you’re ready to take the next step: a real-life meet-up. That’s great news! That being said, you should always practice caution and use your best judgment when meeting up with someone you don’t know.
Here’s a few tips, tricks, and best practices to help make sure a first date is scary-exciting, not scary-scary.
Do some background work
Some might say stalking your match on socials before a date is bad form, but we say get your detective on – just don’t like that picture with their ex from 186 weeks ago. Use their social media accounts to confirm they’re who they say.
If a match is putting out red flags and you suspect they might be a scammer, a little extra fact-checking might be in order. Try a Google reverse image search to check if their photos are legit. Some scammers might have multiple profiles under different names, or steal photos from influencers, low-profile celebrities, or stock websites.
Try a phone call or video chat first
Aside from confirming the person on the other side of the chat is a real-life person who fits their profile, a phone call or a video chat can also help you gauge if someone’s vibes are right.
Get to know each other this way a bit, so you can feel more comfortable actually meeting up for a date.
Tell people you trust about your plans
Let some friends or family members know about your date. That includes where you’re going, who you’re going with, and what time you plan to be home.
If you want to take an extra step, share your location with them. Here’s how to turn on location sharing for Apple and Android, or you can download an app like Life360. Also, make sure you leave for your date with a fully-charged phone or even bring a charger.
Meet in a public place
As romantic as it might sound to have your date pick you up at your front door with a bouquet of roses, save this for when you’re officially a couple. When meeting someone new, always meet in a public, populated space – and stay there, too, no matter how much they’d like to take you home.
On top of not revealing your home address, meeting in a public space ensures you can turn to someone for help if needed.
Use your own transportation
Don’t depend on your date for a ride. Having your own ride, whether it’s your vehicle, a friend, or public transportation, is good for a couple of reasons: It keeps your home address private and ensures you have the means to leave whenever you want.
Bonus tip: If you’re using a ride-share app, most have the option to live-share your trip with a friend or family member. Use this to give people you trust more details about your coming and going from a date.
If something’s off, leave
Worried about ending a date early and offending your date? Don’t be. Your safety is always the top priority, so trust your gut if something feels weird.
If you need extra support while leaving a situation that doesn’t feel safe, call a friend or ask an employee near you for help. You can also consider a personal safety alarm like the Birdie+. This not only has a loud alarm, but can also connect you to a live rep, share your location with emergency contacts, and even send you a fake phone call when you find yourself in sketchy situations.