Online Dating - Six Ways to Protect Your Privacy in Cyberspace

Online dating is becoming more and more mainstream, as people from all walks of life plug in and find their soul mate in cyberspace. Here are six tips to finding that special someone while still maintaining your privacy and safety online.

1. Avoid large, public chat rooms where anything can (and does!) take place. Some people frequent these areas just to see what they can get away with. Instead, focus on smaller, more targeted web sites or chat rooms that match your interests or lifestyle. There are many online dating sites that cater to specific hobbies and several offer free trial memberships.

2. When you find a chat room, dating site, or forum that matches your interest, introduce yourself with only as much information as you feel comfortable giving. Don't plaster your phone number, address or any other personal information on the site. Wait until you meet someone with whom you truly "click" and have spoken to them for awhile. Common sense and that "gut feeling" are great indicators for when something just doesn't seem quite right.

3. Participate in the forum or chat room regularly. Keep it "low-key" until you start forming friendships with the regular members there. Be honest, and be yourself ? after all, being natural is what will endear you to a particular mate.

4. Keep your correspondence limited to e-mail and chat until you get to know the person well enough to feel comfortable sharing your phone number and talking for the first time. If you need a good ice-breaker, start off the chat by talking about the forum or chat room where you met and any special interests that brought you two together.

5. If you decide to meet each other in person, choose a neutral, public place. You may even choose a town or city that's not the same as the one where you live. Restaurants, parks, theaters and other public places where people gather often are a good place to start. Alternately, you could choose to attend a special event in your area together, perhaps a concert, festival or fair. Either way, let friends or family know where you're going and who you're going with, as well as what time you'll be returning so they'll know how and where to reach you.

6. If you're interested in a few online "matches" that come your way, consider setting up a post office box and a free e-mail account to share information with each other. That way, if you come to find that you really don't "click" with this person, you won't feel as if you've given any personal contact information away.

If you follow these six tips, chances are you'll have a great time with your cyber date. Remember to be honest and be yourself! If you do, chances are that you'll find that perfect special someone who enjoys you for who you are!

Mike is an advisor for Online Dating. He has been tagged as an "Expert" in the topic of Online Dating for the past few years for his extraordinary advice. http://online-dating.eclicksoft.com

---

Dating Personals! Find Out How To Write A Knockout Personal Ad

If you're about to leap into dating personals and don't... Read More

How to Impress a Woman

The feeling that you need to impress a woman usually... Read More

A Nice Guys Guide to Dating Success

Has it ever happened to you? Have you ever had... Read More

Avoiding the Grand Manipulator

Let's face it...some women can be ruthless. There are certain... Read More

Does Online Dating Work?

Dating Online is currently the Internets biggest craze, and its... Read More

Top 10 Photo Blunders

The following no-nonsense list was compiled from interviews with long-time... Read More

How To Choose a Dating Service

There are so many dating sites out there, hundreds if... Read More

Christian Dating Service and Dating Services

A Christian dating service can help single Christians meet one... Read More

The Cyber Lothario

Are you writing to someone who is romancing you off... Read More

Internet Dating for Men

Over the past several years online dating has become very... Read More

Overcoming Your Nervousness About Talking to Women

Standing at the magazine rack thumbing through Cosmo, she has... Read More

The Deal Breakers

Deal Breakers. Everyone's got them. You know: the instant turn-offs... Read More

How to Get the Girl You Want: The Attraction Killer to Avoid and Some Strategies for Success

It's one of the supreme tragedies in life. When there's... Read More

Compliments - A Very Powerful Dating Tool!

Giving a compliment can be a very powerful tool when... Read More

Dumb Dating Mistakes Men Make with Women

Do you strike out with single women in the romance... Read More

Finding Compatible E-Dates

In the world of online dating misrepresentation is at an... Read More

Too Ugly? Too Short? Heres How To Turn Your Flaws Into Strengths

If you're worried and upset about your physical flaws, which... Read More

It Pays For Single Christians To Date Other Like-Minded People

Searching for the perfect mate can be one of life's... Read More

How To Land The Catch Of Your Life Without Becoming Sharkbait

However you like to do it, dating is a dangerous... Read More

Gay, Single, & Loving It!

Introduction We live in a society that places high value... Read More

Men: Never Compliment a Woman You Want to Date

Hello Lucia,I regularly compliment women and tell them that I... Read More

Dating After Divorce: Things To Think About Regarding Dating After Divorce

Dating after divorce is a much debated topic due to... Read More

The Final Solution to Dating

I run a blog where I discuss the topic of... Read More

Hot Women And Eye Contact

For a while now I've been wondering why some women... Read More

The Right Dating Site For You

There are so many dating sites on the net these... Read More

Love Eluding You? Let Go and It May Find You

How many times have you heard someone say it was... Read More

Safe Cyber Dating

Cyber dating is one of the most popular dating venues... Read More

Dating a Non Christian

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what... Read More

A guide for being single in Mimasaka, Okayama Prefecture

"A Tsuyama singles scene?" scoffs single Mimasaka resident Hiroyiki Matsuda.... Read More

Who Says Online Datings Only For Losers?

I let that friend talk me into browsing some pictures... Read More

How To Have Sex On A First Date

Guys have all different motives for trying to be successful... Read More

Online Dating - 5 Essential Safety Tips

So, you've decided to take the plunge and follow in... Read More

90% of Your Dating Issues Solved!

A friend of mine recently exclaimed, "Dating is so complicated!"... Read More