Been sitting on this question for a while — figured this community would have the best take. Blocking and reporting features matter a lot. Good moderation separates quality from garbage.
Use a Google Voice number instead of your real number when getting to know someone new. Platform reputation on review sites is a decent proxy for moderation quality.
Basic precautions I follow:
- Use a Google Voice number instead of your real number when getting to know someone new.
- Tell a trusted friend where you're going and share your live location during a first meet.
- Trust your gut completely. If something feels off before a meet, cancel without guilt.
- Never share your real last name, address, or workplace before meeting someone in person.