How to Maintain (Relative) Privacy in Dating Apps
Whether you use Tinder, Hinge, or Tudder (this is a farmer’s app that introduces cows platonically!), Safety is key. You never know who you will meet when you are divided by a screen and a grainy photo.
With your digital privacy at stake more than ever, it is helpful to exercise a little discretion when you are in danger of entering the world of dating.
This week, Wired talked about how you can approach your dating app game with a little more caution. We’ve taken this a step further and added a few tips you should follow in your quest to find a partner – and why editing your profile is a must these days:
Edit data retrieved from your social media accounts
With an app like Tinder, you can easily sync your Facebook and Instagram accounts. This information enables your profile to absorb personal data such as your work and high school photos (you are different now!).
As Wired recommends, consider editing any data retrieved from your accounts. Even if your name and alma mater are the only data available, this information can be easily used to find you elsewhere (eg on Linkedin).
Also change your main photo in your dating app account. By doing a reverse image search, this can be used to find your Facebook profile or other websites that your image appears on.
Don’t give your number so quickly
We understand that good conversation in the app leads to the exchange of numbers. This is why you shouldn’t give your number too quickly: once someone gets this information, they can use it to pull out your Instagram account if it’s linked to your phone. If so, disconnect your phone number from Instagram. The area code itself contains identifying information about where you live / lived, so save the chat in the app if possible.
Disable location settings
Some apps purposefully track your location in relation to potential dates. Disable this in your phone settings so that no one can find you. Yes, some apps require your location to work. In this case, set the mode in which the location is used only when using the application.
Strengthen your dating personality
Sometimes we need to roll out a wide web, which means trying every application until we are successful. Yes, they may well increase your chances of finding one, but consider hitting at least a few of them. When you bump into the same person in two or three different apps, it’s easy to collect identifying information on them (if you combine someone’s OkCupid profile with their corresponding Hinge account, you practically have an encyclopedia of information about them).
Delete application
So you’ve met someone! Congratulations, you can enthusiastically uninstall the application. Unfortunately, it is never that easy. Many apps like Tinder and Hinge require in-app uninstallation first. Others, like Coffee Meets Bagel, give you the option to uninstall an in-app app or send an email to customer service. Make sure you complete the extra steps before uninstalling the app on your phone, otherwise your digital self will continue to live a lonely life (who needs it?)