For years, we’ve all been wondering when the world would finally catch on to the fact that there are actual dangers lurking behind the façade of the digital world. It turns out that the same things that can be dangerous in real life can be treacherous in the digital space too.
That’s why we’re talking about the dangers of Facebook dating. If you’ve been longing to know what you’re up against before diving into the pool of love again, here’s a quick checklist of all the potential pitfalls you need to be aware of.
What is Facebook dating?
Facebook dating is the act of meeting and arranging a date with someone online through Facebook.
Facebook dating can be dangerous because you don’t know who you are talking to and they could be lying about who they really are. You have no idea what their intentions might be, what kind of person they really are, or what they’re hiding. When you meet someone in real life, there’s always that chance that something happens that makes you feel unsafe right off the bat.
And it’s difficult to get away from them without making a scene. However, when it comes to chatting with strangers on any variety of apps just like Facebook, there’s no escape.
It may not be easy enough to walk away from the conversation if you don’t feel safe or comfortable with them anymore. The worst part is being stuck wondering how you’re going to get out of this situation until it’s too late.
Facebook has no shortage of singles
The first thing you should know is that Facebook has no shortage of singles. There are more than 1.3 billion people on Facebook, and of course, a lot of them are single. In fact, there are at least 120 million people who use Facebook to find a partner every day.
You can’t see who’s looking at your timeline
A big reason why many people fail at Facebook dating is that their privacy settings aren’t set to public. And that means that you can’t see who’s looking at your timeline. This makes it hard for you to know if the person you just matched with on a dating app is legitimate or not.
See: How To Block Or Unblock Someone On Facebook Dating
How will you know if they are really interested in you or just trying to steal your identity? You don’t have any way of knowing, which is why you need to make sure that the privacy setting on your profile is set to public.
What happens when you meet on Facebook?
Facebook is a great way to meet new people. You can chat with someone, get to know them, and then decide if you want to meet up in real life. But there are some things you need to be aware of before chatting up your next potential date.
First, Facebook does not verify the identity of its members so it’s easy for someone to pretend to be who they’re not. That means that if you do decide to meet someone from Facebook, it’s important that you go somewhere public and have a friend with you. Be aware of who is on the other end of the screen; anyone could be on the other side.
Second, what happens when one person starts out as a friend but then wants more? This type of situation is all too common on social media sites like Facebook where friends often turn into something more without even discussing it first.
It’s important that both parties understand each other’s intentions before proceeding any further or else they may be disappointed in their partner and feel like they got played by their crush.
Third, how do these relationships really end? Sometimes people will play games with others’ emotions and use this site as a means of entertainment or revenge rather than an opportunity for a relationship.
There are all sorts of messages being sent back and forth between people, but what happens when one person decides he or she doesn’t want anything more? Just because someone says “let’s break up,” it doesn’t always
Beware of scams
First and foremost, when you sign up for Facebook dating, be aware that scammers abound. Scammers create fake profiles in order to obtain your personal information.
To avoid these scams, never give out any of your personal information or pay money to anyone through Facebook. If someone asks for any type of payment or sends you a message asking for it, shut down the conversation immediately and report the account if possible.
We know it’s not always easy to spot scammers on social media sites like Facebook. One way to identify them is by their profile name. Most scammers will use a variation of “model” in their username which should set off red flags in your head because legitimate users would not likely do this.
Another way to identify a scammer is by looking at their photos. Scammers often have professionally taken pictures because they know how important it is to seem more credible than the average user.
The problem with this strategy is that scammers may use stolen photos as part of their scamming efforts and so you could find yourself talking to someone who doesn’t exist at all!
Be Careful Who You Give Your Info To
When it comes to dating, you have to be careful about the information you give out. You should never provide your social security number, credit card numbers, or any other sensitive information that could be used against you.
See: How do I block or unblock someone on Facebook Dating
This goes for Facebook dating as well. One of the most dangerous pitfalls you’ll find on Facebook is giving your personal information to someone who doesn’t deserve it. You may not realize it at first, but once they have your contact info, they can start sending you messages and trying to get more identifying details from you. So be careful!
No One’s Worth Committing Identity Fraud For
There are many things that could happen when you start chatting with someone online. You might meet someone who shares your interests, or you might find a date for Friday night. But one thing you’re not looking for is to be the victim of identity fraud. That’s because scammers and thieves are more likely to victimize people they believe will be easy targets.
Be careful about sending sensitive information like your address, phone number, or even credit card number over Facebook chat. One of the best ways to avoid being taken advantage of by scammers on Facebook is to never give out this type of information until you’ve verified the person you’re talking with on social media actually exists.
You May Be Brushing Up on Ghosts of Your Dating Past
Let’s be honest, some of your worst dating experiences were probably on Facebook. Maybe they were flakes or serial daters. Maybe they were clingy or control freaks. They may have even been abusive, but you brushed it off because you only saw them online.
But guess what? It turns out that the more time you spend with someone online, the more likely it is that you will run into the same people in real life too. The world is small and there are plenty of ways for people to “accidentally” cross paths.
Beware of Fake Profiles
It’s not hard to make a fake profile. You just need to know someone’s name and date of birth, which can be found in many places. And then you can create a Facebook account with that information and send friend requests to people you want to date or fall in love with.
A lot of the time, these profiles will have some of the person’s words copied from their social media accounts or from other websites like LinkedIn. They might even post pictures that have been stolen from an unrelated person’s social media account.
It’s important to be skeptical of anyone who seems too good to be true on Facebook dating platforms because at first glance they may very well be. It’s also important not to feel pressured into sending any personal information before meeting up in person if a profile seems fishy or too good to be true.
Even if this person is your future husband, it pays off more in the end not to give out any personal information until you get a chance to meet them in real life and see if they’re who they say they are online.
How to Avoid the Traps Of Facebook Dating
With Facebook dating, you can meet people who don’t exist in real life. You may not know their full name, job title, or even where they live. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? Well, that’s only the beginning.
Facebook has been riddled with countless scams and other methods of tricking its users into revealing personal information. Hackers have had a lot of success taking advantage of Facebook dating because it provides them with an easy way to prey on people’s vulnerability and curiosity.
See: How to unblock someone on facebook dating
But it doesn’t stop there. If you’re using the app Plenty Of Fish to find love, be on the lookout for these dangers:
- You don’t know if your new love interest is really single or if he/she is still married
- You could be meeting someone who’s not mentally stable enough to date
- The person on Facebook might not match what they present themselves as in real life
So how do you avoid the traps of Facebook Dating:
- Bear careful and ensure to keep your identifying information private.
- You need to either Report or block anyone who asks you to share your personal information. Yes, it is pertinent for you if you’ve received a message that you believe is a scam to report the person to Facebook instead of replying.
Here Is The Common warning signs include when a scammer on Facebook Dating:
- Wants to leave Facebook Dating immediately and use personal email or a messaging app to chat.
- Claims to be in love very quickly to persuade you to talk with them.
- Plans to visit, but claims that something bad happened and cancels plans.
- Asks you to wire money or send gifts or gift cards.
Tips for Staying Safe O Facebook Dating
Some suggestions to help you stay safe when meeting your date in person:
- Tell someone about your plans
- Share your location
- Meet and stay in public
- Familiarize yourself with the meeting spot
- Monitor any alcohol or substance consumption
- Make sure your mobile phone is charged
- Arrange your own transportation
- Share personal information carefully