It’s 2019 and there’s an app for getting laid. It might sound sleazy, but that’s the miracle that is Tinder: a free hook-up app that brings together people who are interested in casual sex. You’d think this is a man’s dream come true, but in a society where women have learned more about how to be self-reliant and are more focused on their careers, they don’t really have that much time to date anymore.

Even so, sex is needed. And that’s where Tinder comes into play. But as with every other (sort-of) blind date in the world, scoring casual sex partners on Tinder does imply taking some risks. If you’ve never hooked up with anyone using the internet before, you might not know what to expect. Let’s shed some light on that mystery, shall we?

Cross-Referencing

The biggest danger of getting to know someone on a platform like Tinder is the fact that everybody can lie. In fact, it’s safe for you to assume that all the time, until proven otherwise. We’re not saying that you should immediately call people out because you suspect everything they tell you is a lie, but take everything with a grain of salt, and maybe do a little research before you meet with them in person. 

That means that once you’ve set up a date with someone you “swiped” on Tinder, check out to see if they have platforms on other social media accounts as well. Some might say that’s basically stalking, but does that really matter when you’re about to meet a total stranger and hook up? I’d say: safety first. A simple image search with their Tinder p[profile picture on Google or looking them up on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/whatever should be more than enough. Just to make sure they are who they say they are.

Sharing Personal Information

Another thing that you should assume is that the person who you’re talking to is a scammer. It might sound harsh, but there are actually plenty of horrible Tinder-related stories shared by men and women alike, which leads us to the next problem: sharing personal information. 

Our advice is this: use a secondary phone number for your Tinder dates. Never ask them to pick you up from home, and instead use a cab to a neutral meeting location. Don’t give out too much information that could be used against you, at least not until you get to know that person a little bit better. 

Avoiding STIs

Another thing that you want to assume (not just about people who use Tinder, but about every potential sex partner) is that anyone can have a sexually transmitted infection. New York Times launched many assumptions that the rise in STIs in 2014 could have been related to the Tinder effect, which brings us down to the third most important piece of advice: ALWAYS use a condom.

Not being in a monogamous relationship should raise concerns of more than just unwanted pregnancies. Even if you are on birth control, you need to use a condom because there is a very generous pool of diseases that can cause serious health complications in the short and long-term. Who invented the phrase “better safe than sorry” was absolutely onto something.