I dated as a teenager, tried online chat rooms in my thirties and returned to online dating in my forties. My parents had met, gotten engaged quickly and stayed together for the rest of their lives. Their experience left me with few pointers for finding my own way back into dating.
On this page
Keep personal details private
On an app or dating site, share what you enjoy and what you’re looking for. Keep your home address, workplace and daily routine private. If someone asks for money, pressures you to share details or becomes hostile, stop responding and use the platform’s blocking or reporting tools.
Choose a short first date
Meet in a busy public place, arrange your own way home and tell someone you trust about the plan. Coffee or a short lunch can be enough time to see whether you’d like to meet again. RAINN’s safer dating guide offers more planning ideas.
See whether you want the same things
Ask directly about anything important that is unclear, from relationship status to what each of you hopes for. You can leave if the person is pushy or what you learn changes how you feel. I met my boyfriend online and was glad I’d made room to date again. Choose a pace that fits your own life.