Should You Google Someone Before a First Date?

There is something very exciting about receiving a first date via the Internet. However, you might encounter many unknowns regarding your date. To begin with, who is that guy whom you are having a date with? Is he being truthful with you? Does everything he tells you ring true? Is he the person he says he is?

Given the common practice of using the internet as a tool for meeting people, it would be only natural for you to conduct a few checks regarding the authenticity of such people. However, how much of your effort is appropriate when checking someone’s background?

Rather than turning into an internet sleuth, just a little bit of investigation can be an effective first-date tip.

 

Google Your Date – Is This Right?

 

Yes, it is right to google your date, particularly when you know them only from a dating site or app and have never met them in person.

First of all, you should probably check out some facts about your date using Google.

In such a case, you can determine whether your assumptions regarding what your date tells you are true. For instance, you will realize that they are working in the same profession you mentioned. This information is confirmed even on their social media sites.

 

Why Should You Research a Person Before Your First Date?

 

A date with an unknown person entails certain uncertainties. Searching for publicly available information will help decrease the degree of those uncertainties.

The search for background information on the Internet does not necessarily require specialized services or the disclosure of private information. It might consist of analyzing publicly available information.

In particular, you can:

• Check whether the basic information about the person is consistent.
• Check whether the professional information matches what they provided you.
• Check whether their social network profiles seem legitimate.
• Check whether the pictures from their dating profile are used elsewhere under dubious circumstances.
• Check whether there are any obvious inconsistencies in the information.

No way will such checks guarantee that the person is honest. However, they might help you spot something that requires further investigation.

 

Look Out for Dating Red Flags, Not Rumors

 

The worst thing that you can do when searching for information about a date is get sidetracked with things that are not important.

It should not matter whether the person that you are going out with has odd hobbies, old photos, or holds views that are different than your own. It is all about looking for information that could pose a risk to your well-being or to your compatibility.

Red flags during the dating process could include inconsistencies between the profile and public information, obvious fake accounts, solicitation of funds, or signs that they are actually pretending to be someone else.

Look for patterns rather than singular occurrences.

Finding a post on social media that goes against the grain of what your date’s personality seems to be like now is not necessarily a red flag. Finding that they are a different person is another story altogether.

 

Use Caution in Social Media Dating

 

It has become easy for people to get acquainted with each other through social media before meeting up.

Remember that some background may be available on social media websites, though it can be misleading at times.

Remember that there will always be a selection process in social media profiles; there could be only travel, friends, success stories, or fun experiences, with nothing else.

Remember that being absent from social media does not mean that the person is being secretive.

As you determine what information to include in your own profile, you should consider privacy concerns. Our guide on whether you should link Instagram to your dating profile discusses how much personal data can be exposed by one’s social profile.

Think of a social profile as one piece of information about a person’s character, not as the whole picture.

 

Too Much Research?

 

There is a fine line between verifying any available information and discovering one’s private life.

Never try to access anyone’s private accounts, set up a fake account to get information, contact their friends for no good reason, or look for private data that is not related to your security at all.

Here, there is no attempt to question the person in an inquisitorial fashion.

Respect between partners is an important element of a good dating relationship. Of course, it would be nice to get this from your partner too.

Here is an easy rule to follow – try to find out something that can help you to make a safer decision.

 

If There Is Anything Wrong, Trust Your Gut Feeling

 

At times, there may not be anything amiss with your study, but people’s conduct is making you uneasy.

Pay heed to that gut feeling.

If the person becomes aggressive in response to your sensible queries, is reluctant to provide answers about themselves, insists on meeting up in some private place, and is constantly changing their stories, you don’t need to keep going out with them.

You don’t owe anyone a meetup just because you’ve been messaging back and forth or set a date with them.

 

First Date Safety Is Still Important

 

No amount of research will ever substitute for first date safety.

Even if everything that is posted on the Internet appears totally fine and okay, it is your first encounter with a person.

Here are some of the basic precautions that can be applied to any first date:

•         Plan to meet in a well-populated place.
•         Inform your friend about your plans.
•         Schedule your own transportation.
•         Bring a fully charged cell phone.
•         Don’t share your home address immediately.
•         Be careful with your beverages.
•         Search for an easy exit point in case you are feeling uneasy.

The following are safety tips for dating online, since even when offline, caution is necessary.

If you are not sure about meeting people face-to-face, you can continue chatting until you are ready to meet people. Flirtbate’s Sex Chat feature will help you do that.

 

What if something goes wrong?

 

You have no reason to pose questions or conduct an inquiry if something goes wrong. This is the time for you to back down.

You can decide to set up an appointment, block the user, contact the dating website or speak with another person about the issue. If you are facing any trouble, such as threats or scams, it could be a good idea to consult a professional.

Keep in mind that you do not have to adhere to your decision at all.

 

Try Video Chatting First

 

Sometimes, a brief video chat may make you more comfortable before meeting face-to-face. Getting to see and hear someone in real time can give you context that photos and text chats alone won’t.

Not a replacement for sound judgment, it can be another step between texting and meeting face-to-face.

Those who prefer to interact visually before meeting in person can use Cam to Cam for live video chat.

 

The Bottom Line

 

So, should you Google before the first date?

Some research may prove helpful, as you will have an opportunity to ensure that all the information provided by the person seems trustworthy and not misleading when dating.

However, do not go overboard and try to discover everything about the person. There is no need to look through the person’s entire history or form an opinion based on any data from the Internet. This will only concern the verification of the reliability of the information provided by the other side, and there is no evidence that you need to alter your attitude towards this approach.

The following pieces of advice can help on your first date: do some research beforehand, keep it a secret, go to a public place, and listen to your instincts.