How to date safely in London
By Sanchia Saunders
Online has revolutionised the dating scene, and the way in which singles find love on a global scale.
As finding your future partner is just merely a swipe away, whether you’re looking for love here in the UK or on the other side of the world in Australia, the impossible has been made possible thanks to online dating apps such as:
Tinder,
Bumble,
Raya
and
Grindr
just to name a few.
However if you look a bit closer to home, example being right here in London where
44.1% of London’s adult populationclassify themselves as single, it highlights how oversaturated the dating scene has become, and how easily it has filtered its way into society’s everyday habits.
If you look at Bumble for example, it is a clear depiction of how many people are currently online swiping for love.
As statistics have found,
Bumble has over 12.3 million daily users, which are generating over 80 million daily swipes, clearly reflecting the platform's high user engagement.
Therefore with so much online traffic when it comes to online dating, what safety measures are in place to keep singles safe.
The Wave Programme
So you may be wondering what is the wave programme and why is it important when it comes to dating safety ?
Well this programme which has been put together by the Safe Business Network, sees this institution collaborate with the Police Services, Councils, Mayors, and businesses nationally to help people who may be vulnerable.
Ultimately meaning that those working in customer facing positions/roles are getting the relevant training needed to protect vulnerable people.
Whether they have a disability or find themselves in a vulnerable situation, these staff members will have the necessary training to deal with these situations accordingly.
Ask Angela
Ask Angela is the second campaign which has been implemented by the Safe Business Network.
It is a consumer facing campaign which allows people who feel like they are in an unsafe situation to ask for help using the “Angela” code word, informing a staff member of their need, and allowing them to access discreet help.
I believe this is a very effective method, as it allows for singles in vulnerable situations to easily slip this phrase into a sentence and receive the help that they need.
How does this lend itself to dating ?
Both of these programmes lend themselves nicely to singles dating in London, as the scheme is educating people in how to notice vulnerable people and protect them.
This is very important especially within the dating scene here in London as 33 percent of dating app users have experienced either harassment or abuse by someone they met via a dating app.
Illustrating how important it is to keep singles safe whilst dating.
Why dating apps need to do better
Despite there being schemes in place like ‘The Wave Programme’ and ‘Ask Angela’ to help drive dating safety, more steps need to be taken to ensure the safety of dating both online and in person.
Yes, even though when you search online you are able to come across articles and blogs advising daters on the do’s and don'ts when going out on the town, as if you look at a post from Northamptonshire police, they have a whole campaign on their page dedicated to
‘online dating safety advice’
where they suggest when meeting up daters should:
- Meet somewhere neutral and public.
- Let a family member or friend know when and where you’re going, when you expect to be back, and who you’re meeting up with.
- Never leave your drink unattended, and if it doesn't taste right don't finish it. Read more about spiked drinks and date-rape drugs.
- Don’t be afraid to leave early if the date isn’t going well or you feel uncomfortable.
- If you need help on a night out, the Safer Nights Out (SNO) van, a customized minibus staffed by vetted volunteers, is in the center of Northampton between 10pm and 5am every Friday and Saturday.
More needs to be done and newer features need to be implemented online to tackle this.
As with statistics stating that more than 55% of people that date online have experienced some form of threat or problem, it shows more measures need to be taken to bring these numbers down. Non profit organisations like
Chayn, help with online abuse, which you may encounter on dating apps. They provide resources and support for survivors of technology-facilitated abuse, which includes various forms of online harassment and abuse.
The app that could change it all
This is why upcoming dating app Evntful may be the thing daters have been missing when trying to search for love safely online.
As this dating app is designed to make dating Evntful again, in a safe and fun way.
The app collaborates with popular bars, restaurants, and experiences to encourage daters to meet in real-world settings. These venues align with Evntful’s commitment to safety, with many participating in initiatives like Ask for Angela or being attentive to Evntful dates.
By booking through the app, users can share their location with emergency contacts, informing them of their whereabouts and company, enhancing their sense of security.
As Evntful partners with safety organizations, the app will soon introduce features designed to enhance user safety both online and in real life. These forthcoming updates aim to provide a secure dating experience, ensuring that daters can feel protected and confident during their interactions and meetings.
So what do you think, is this what you think the online dating scene has been missing ?
Feel free to leave comments on how you would feel safer meeting someone from a dating app or head to our Instagram to share our thoughts.
Credits:
- Standard - https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/dating/these-are-the-areas-with-the-most-singles-in-london-a3800341.html#:~:text=Yet%2C%20according%20to%20recent%20data,with%20the%20most%20single%20people.
- Enterprise apps today - https://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/stats/bumble-statistics.html
- BBC- https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/2022/08/datings-dangerous-secrets
- Northamptonshire Police -
- https://www.northants.police.uk/police-forces/northamptonshire-police/areas/northamptonshire-force-content/c/campaigns/2023/online-dating-safety-advice/
- Ask Angela - https://askforangela.co.uk
- Kaspersky - https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/online-dating-report/#:~:text=Overall%2C%2055%25%20of%20people%20that,at%20risk%20more%20than%20women.
