Been mulling this over and figured this community would have the most honest takes. Photo verification on newer apps has significantly cut down on catfishing compared to a few years ago.
OkCupid's free tier remains surprisingly usable compared to what most other platforms offer for nothing. Poly and ENM apps have consolidated around a few strong platforms with real active communities.
Tell a trusted friend your plans and share your live location during any first meeting.
Safety things I keep in mind:
- Check privacy policies before giving any platform access to your contacts or precise location.
- Use a Google Voice number instead of your real number when you're still getting to know someone.
- Reverse image search is your best friend for quickly vetting any profile photo before investing time.