We strongly advise against meeting in person other users you’ve met online but recognize the desire some have to meet other local people. This safety guide will provide valuable advice on steps you should take if you can’t help yourself and decide to arrange a meeting with someone you’ve met online.

This guide is not specific to any website or service, it applies to anyone and everyone that is contemplating meeting someone from the internet.

Online Chat Interactions - Pre Meeting Behavior.

Don’t rush a meeting. Engage in chat for as long as you can and get to know the person as much as possible. Act from a defensive position to where trust must be earned, do not operate the other way around and wait for reasons to distrust someone. Assume everyone is lying until proven otherwise.

Do not overshare! Remember you’re engaged in chatting with someone close to your proximity. If things turn south, it’s catastrophic if the other party knows where you work or locations where you spend a lot of time, especially since they’ve probably seen your pics. Do not give any information that can be personally identifiable to you as an individual.

Facetime/Video chat with the intended first, don’t get catfished!

Vet the account and usernames. If for example you use SextingFinder.com, we have several features designed to prove the legitimacy of usernames and accounts, check them! Only associate with people that meet certain thresholds and don’t be afraid to ask them why they don’t.

Planning the meet.

- Create a plan and stick to it:

It’s essential to have a plan and most importantly not to deviate from it. Assess all possible scenarios such as if it goes really well, if it’s not going great or if it’s an absolute nightmare, code red get the hell out of there! Have a plan for each of them and possibly a backup so you’re secure and confident with whatever direction things take.

- Inform a close friend or family member:

Make sure that someone knows where you’re going and knows as much information on the person you’re meeting as possible. Maybe even have them come along, lurk at the location or close by. Include them in your plan, have them conveniently interrupt when a code text message is sent or word is overheard during conversation.

- Picking the right place:

Always choose a public location for your first meet, somewhere easily accessible and familiar to you. Not a place you visit too often as if the meeting doesn’t go well, you don’t want to run the risk of bumping into this person again.

Factor in things like what time does the establishment close where you’re meeting. Do not leave the opportunity to have to refactor on the fly things that could jeopardize your plan.

Final safety precautions.

At this point everything is in place and you’re ready to meet, consider this:

- Do they insist on a particular location?

- Is their mind set on a particular activity?

- Do they insist on handling your transportation?

- Do they understand and respect your boundaries?

You still have the time to back out, but test their flexibility. Create some character testing points of your own and add them to the list above if those apply, gauge their reaction.

If they’re being entirely inflexible, this is a huge red flag. Sure nobody likes last minute changes, but predators engineer circumstances to be favorable to themselves. If a seemingly harmless change that might not seem like a big deal becomes one, it might be a sign to cancel or renegotiate the terms.

Meeting Time!

You should be feeling good, confident, excited and a little nervous but most importantly prepared for however this goes.

Remember to stick to the plan! You only lose control of this situation when you change something that wasn’t anticipated. Even if everything is going incredibly well, just plan to meet again. It’s important to see how things end on this first meeting, you can’t get a full judge of character until it’s time to go. They could aggressively try and push for a plan change right at the end.

If you’re feeling uncomfortable or pressured it’s a bad sign, if you initially met with no expectations other than a drink at a bar just to get acquainted, then you’re being bombarded with attempts to lead things elsewhere, it may be time to execute your exit plan.

All situations are unique. The best practice is to use common sense and don’t let your feelings and impatience get the better of you!

Meeting People Online In Person Safety Guide.