USA TODAY International Edition
Protect your personal data if on dating sites
Setting up a profile on most dating apps is simple.
You input your name, upload some photos, set your location and sexual preferences and you’re launched into a sea of mostly singles to chat with, meet and take things from there.
During the process, you’re also giving up valuable, personal information to platforms that often monetize by selling that data to third parties you’ve never heard of. Not to mention, data breaches abound.
When you sign up for a dating or hookup app, “you’re putting information out there that people can use against you. Whether it’s hackers or predators, a cybercriminal can use that information to send you a phishing email, and you can fall for it,” said Jo O’Reilly, a data privacy expert at ProPrivacy. “For women, you’re putting information out there like addresses and phone numbers that can make you vulnerable to stalkers.”
Most dating apps monetize by persuading users to sign up for premium memberships, according to Nazmul Islam, a forecasting analyst at eMarketer. However, dating app subscription growth is slowing, so the platforms are looking for other ways to diversify revenue streams.
“They’ve started offering sponsored surveys where they will give users access to premium features if they take a survey from a marketing partner,” Islam said. “
Advertisers use this treasure trove of consumer data to display marketing materials online that are tailor- made for you.
But it’s also important to remember that online dating companies also have access to your private messages and any personal pictures and videos you share. And the companies likely will give that information up if subpoenaed, O’Reilly said.
Dating app tips
Only sign up for apps that you have to pay for. Free apps are more likely to sell your data, O’Reilly said.
Use only your first name or a nickname as it makes you harder to identify if hackers access your account details.
Don’t give away your home address, work address, phone number or email address in private messages, or when signing up.