This came up in conversation recently and I realized I had no good answer. Moderation quality varies a lot between gay chat platforms and really impacts the experience.
Never share your real last name, address, or workplace before meeting someone in person. Reverse image search is your best friend for quickly vetting profile photos.
Basic precautions I follow:
- Reverse image search is your best friend for quickly vetting profile photos.
- A VPN helps with general privacy but is not a complete solution for anonymity.
- Tell a trusted friend where you're going and share your live location during a first meet.