Been thinking about this a lot lately and figured I'd ask the community directly. Platforms that do phone verification are way cleaner than the ones that let anyone sign up with an email.
Most of the old-school sites have really gone to pay-to-play models which is frustrating. Premium features on most sites are genuinely not worth it unless you're in a very active metro area.
A few things worth keeping in mind:
- Screen recording during video chats is a real concern. Keep personal identifying details off screen.
- Platforms with active moderation and real reporting tools are worth prioritizing over free-for-all sites.
- Separate browser profiles and email addresses for dating activity are basic hygiene at this point.