The beauty of being able to use the internet to reach out to your overseas friends or meet new people is tremendous. The online world allows people from all over the world to connect. You can maintain relationships as well as build new ones.
The thing with building new relationships online is that you need to know how to be safe. On that note, here are some tips for meeting people safe online.
Use a safe chat line
Before you meet someone in real life, you might want to transition from your online chats with the person to speak to them on the phone. You can easily find chat line numbers online, which will allow you to meet new people and grow your connections.
Speaking on the phone first will be the next step to getting to know the person on a different level.
Likewise, using a safe chat line means finding one that is verified and doesn’t allow people to send abusive messages.
Avoid giving too much personal information
People can be quite forward online. When a person is behind a screen, they can be braver. Thus, people might ask quite intense questions. Just remember that you never have to answer if you don’t want to. Politely avoid or decline the question and keep your personal information safe.
Never hand over any numbers online from your mobile phone number to your credit card details. Handing over your details can cause you to be hacked by the person or by another hacker on the chat system.
Use a different phone number when signing up
Speaking of your phone number, try to avoid using it when you sign up to the social platform. Whether it be a social media platform or a chat service, use a false or temporary phone number. If a chat service has access to your real phone number, it might display it to people that you speak to.
Avoid using your real details so that you can protect your identity.
When you meet in person, meet in an open space
Whether or not the person you are speaking to wants to meet in an open space, make sure you do. You are much safer in an open space where other people can see you. Although you might feel like you know the person, it is difficult to truly know someone by talking online.
When it comes to meeting, ask to meet somewhere that is familiar to you and somewhere that you know you will feel and be safe.
Double-check your privacy settings
It is important to keep yourself as private as possible online so that people cannot hinder your safety.
Double-check your privacy settings on your social and chat platforms. You can ensure that your information is hidden so that people cannot see it, even if they search for it online. You can personalize your settings to suit you. Yet, the most protection online will offer you the most real-life protection.
