Using hookup apps and sites can be very fun but it can also be very dangerous. When it comes to online hookups and using the hookup apps you need to be safe. Especially women. So how does one stay safe when using hookup apps? If you follow our tips we can make sure you are as safe as possible. Let us begin. How to stay safe when using hook up apps:
We want you to go out and have fun when it comes to meeting random hookups. There should be no reason for you to be scared or feel at risk. While the obvious hope is that you never have to use any of these tips, it is always better to be safe rather than sorry. Here are our helpful tips to keep you safe on your future hookup dates. The last thing any girl wants to be end up in a sticky situation with no idea how to help herself.
We interview a bunch of girls and got them to give us the low-down on how to stay safe while hookup dating. We can talk your ear off all we want but hearing it come from your peers can really allow it to set it for you. Take it from the girls who have been there and understand that not every guy you meet in the online dating world is a bad guy. You will find yourself chatting up a potential Prince Charming.
This might not be the sexiest thing in the world, but make sure that someone knows where you are and who you are with and preferably show them a photo of the person you are meeting up with. Just in case. Even have things set in place where they call you an hour into the date or you send them texts throughout the whole thing so they know that you are safe and that you aren't being kidnapped or hurt.
"My roommate didn't tell me any details about where she was going. She panicked and called me asking to come get her but I had no idea where she was. Thankfully we both use the "Find My Phone" app and I was able to find her quickly but wow was I scared for her. It turns out the guy just ditched her mid-date in not in the greatest area of town. Some guys are jerks." – Brittany Santos, 26, Pensacola, FL
No matter what the location is, always, always, always bring some form protection. We aren't talking condoms, although bring those too, you know, just in case. We will talk more about that later. Bring some form of weapon. There are tons of purse size weapons you can carry on your person. There is everything from pepper spray, mini knives, personal alarms, and literally tons more. Never leave home without them. It sucks that this is what women need to do, but its better to be safe than a statistic.
"My best friend and I both bought matching peppers sprays in adorable little pink cases. We have never had to use them but it does make us feel a million times better knowing that we have them in our purses." – Chrissy Bartel, 24, Rochester, NY
When meeting your hookup for the time make sure your phone is fully charged. The worst thing you can do is be in trouble and not have a working phone. That is scary. You never know how much you rely on those things until yours is dead and you are in trouble.
"My phone died just before my date got a little bit too forceful and handsy with me. I thought I was done for, I kept thinking ‘I can't get out of this, what am I gonna do?' Thankfully, I pushed him off me and ran to the nearest gas station to get help. They called the police and the cops drove me. I am never leaving the house without a fully charged phone. Ever." Samantha Jenkins, 27, Scranton, PA
If you have their phone number you can search them on the inter web. If you find that they seem normal, they have regular friends, and they post photos of them doing things often, this is a great sign. If you see that they have one post in total and their profile picture is a landscape or a dog or something other than themselves, that is a red flag. Be mindful about meeting them. Also, see if they have a Twitter account. Twitter is great for learning about a person, they often post without restriction so you can tell if they are a good person or if they are a racist or sexist or just non-existent. Basically, make sure that they seem normal as possible. That's the main point.
"I lucked out and my parents work in the government, so I have a tendency to really search who I'm dating. You would be surprised to find out how many guys have tickets for public urination. Thankfully, if that's the worst of it, I can live with that." – Rachel Ferris, 27, Harlem, TX
When it comes to meeting in the day versus meeting at night, try to aim for the day time. There is always something happening in the city at that time plus, for your sake, it is just safer. When you meet with people at night, they have more opportunities to grab you and hide under the cover of darkness.
"I have been on some sketchy hookup dates. I met one guy after work at a sketchy bar downtown at 11pm. We had been chatting for a while, and it seemed safe. Thankfully it was but had he been a creep, I would've been down for." – Tracy Goodman, age 24, Long Beach, CA
If you are meeting them for the first time, make sure you meet them in a public place. Always take it as a red flag if they want to meet somewhere secluded or at their place. You don't know them and while to them it might be romantic, you need to err on the side of caution. Meeting in a public place is good for a number of different reasons. For one, you have a bunch of witnesses around in case anything should happen. If you are super nervous you can always have a friend show up before you and sit at a table near you so they can spy and make sure that you are in good hands.
"I have been hookup dating for years now. I love it and as long as long as you play it safe, you don't run the risk of ever getting hurt. Just really vet the guys. See what you can find out about them on the internet. Meet in public places or during the day. If you always err on the side of caution, you will always be safe." – Michelle Duncan, 28, Reno, NV
Don't let them pick you up on a first date. If you are just meeting for the first time, you aren't sure if they are crazy or not. So, maybe don't let them know where you live. That would be not good. Also, until you are comfortable tell them you have a roommate so they don't think that they can just show up assume you live alone. You want to be as safe as possible. Granted, if the date goes really well and you trust them to drive you home then by all means, have them drive you home. However, if you do not feel comfortable with them, let them know up front that you have a way home and do not need them to drive you.
"The best move I ever made was finding my own way to meet a hookup. The date went south very fast when I informed this was nothing more than a meet up to see if we would click. He got mad and said that I lead him on. He got loud about it to which I felt great. What girl doesn't like being called a cocktease at a bar at 6pm on a Tuesday? Thankfully I drove myself and was able to leave and be safe." – Sharon Gleeson, 24, Ithaca, NY
If you decide that you two are going to meet up for a coffee or a beer to see if you two like each other, than make sure they know that this might be all that's happening. If they get mad that this was the plan but it doesn't end in sex that is a huge red flag and you need to get out of that situation quickly. Call an Uber in secret and jump into the car the moment it shows up.
"Always agree on what you are doing before you meet up. Make sure they know that it's just a meet and greet and that you two won't be going home together right away. This is a great way to make sure that you are remain safe and also that you don't get put into a situation that can be scary for you. Guys are usually on board with this too, since they are nervous that you will might single white female them." – Tiffany Amber Rose, 27, San Diego, CA
Long before going on casual dates or hookup dates, take a couple of self defence classes. You can usually get discounted deals for being a first timer at most places, as well, you can also find great deals on Groupon or WagJag. The main thing here is to learn how you can protect yourself should you happen to be attacked. We pray that you never have to use any of this but we also know that not everyone out there is a good person. Better to be over prepared and never use it than the other way around.
"A bunch of us took a self defence course for fun. It was great, we got in a good workout, learned how to defend ourselves but most of all we learned that we don't have to be victims. I loved that part of it. We can be our own heroes and never have to rely on men." – Stephanie Clarke, 22, Miami, FL
In the end the only perfectly sound advice we can give you is to listen to your gut. Your gut knows whether or not you are in a safe situation so trust it. If something feels weird, shoot a text to your friend or casually say you just need to call your roommate for some made-up reason and get the heck out of there.
"I went out with a guy who seemed normal but there was something off about him. I didn't like the way he looked at me. I felt uneasy, so I told him I wasn't feeling great and left. Turns out I was right to do so. He got into a fight after I left for trying to touch a girl at the bar after a few drinks. Sometimes your gut just knows. Listen to that voice." – Molly Brown, 31, Buffalo, MI
Dating is fun and having casual hookups can also be very fun but you need to be safe about things. There is no shame in admitting you might be scared or that you are in way over your head. In theory, if they are a nice person, they will understand and pull back. However, just in case, we hope that some of these tips have guided you well.
A special thanks to all the girls we sat down and talked with. Your stories were so inspiring and we hope that they help other girls out there manage to stay safe.
