Meeting someone safely from OLD

[emdrneeded]

Meeting a guy tomorrow I've been chatting to a bit from OLD. He seems cool, but doesn't use social media so haven't been able to check him out. I'm a bit nervous about meeting a stranger.

Does anyone have any tips re making myself safe? We're meeting outside a busy park then walking to restaurant together. It's a busy place so no worries there but am letting my nerves get to me a bit!

Is there a reason he doesn't have social media? It does seem almost strange these day's. Do you have any mutual friends or anyone else that could vouch he is who he says he is. Well done for meeting in a public place though, the safest thing to do

Tell a friend where you are going, what time etc. It would be helpful if it was someone who was available to help if needed.
Perhaps even share your location on iPhone with someone?

@imissthesouth it’s not that weird I know several people with no social media. My husband only has 3 people on Facebook as he barely bothers with it.

@imissthesouth

Is there a reason he doesn't have social media? It does seem almost strange these day's. Do you have any mutual friends or anyone else that could vouch he is who he says he is. Well done for meeting in a public place though, the safest thing to do

A lot of people don't have social media accounts. I don't for example

It’s natural to be worried but follow the tips above about letting someone know your plans and you’ll be fine. I wouldn’t say not being on social media is a red flag.

Definitely let someone know where you’ll be and roughly how long you expect to be. Arrange to contact them when you’re finished so they know you are safe.

Maybe I'm in a little tech bubble, I guess now I think of it there is a lot of people without social media. I'm losing touch with reality😳definitely tell someone where you're going, second the sharing location thing, if you have an iPhone add your friend /parents etc to find my friends, android phones have similar apps you can download

Congratulations op I met my partner on old 😁 before I met him for the first time I made sure a friend knew exactly where we would be and she called me an hour into the date to make sure I was ok ! We had agreed if I didn't answer she would take that as something was wrong and come to where we would be

I wouldn’t tell someone I hadn’t met before what my social media was. I wouldn’t want a stranger trawling through my accounts.

Make sure you tell someone where you’re going and that they check you are ok at regular intervals.

Met Mr Baby on a dating site, neither of us had social media, I still don't - work discourage it. First date I made sure I told some friends where I was going and what the plan was and had a check in time with them, where I'd text to say still Ok and where I was by a certain time then ring to say I had got home safely. Friends were not too geographically distant and ready to jump into a car and come to the rescue if needed. Did this for the first few dates - not always the same set of friends. Your plan sounds fine. We did meeting for a cup of coffee first but met in a book shop (may be that bit isn't so doable right now.) sounds as if you have a good plan though.
I hope you end up as happy as we have been.

My DP booked a table in a restaurant for our first date and asked me to look at the location etc on line because he wanted to be sure it was in a location I felt safe in. He did give me his social media info before the date in case I wanted to check him out (I didn't). He obviously wanted me to feel secure!

I told my best friend I was on a date & she checked in about midnight to see if I was ok- I was. I got an uber home and "shared my ride" info with DP so he knew I was back, too, having put me in the cab. Plus I told friend upon my return!

I don't find lack of social weird. My loveliest ex never had it (still doesn't) and this was back when fb was way more popular than now.

Have you spoken to him on the phone or asked him to send him a pic on WhatsApp or text or similar

What @Stella8686 said
I'd personally never meet someone i haven't spoke on the phone to, although I am always sceptical about these things.

I dont have social media and if i did i wouldnt want someone i hadnt met trawling through it.

Make sure you speak on the phone or video call before meeting. But if he does have your number turn your location off, some messaging apps you can see where someone is.

Beyond that, as long as you meet in a public place, listen to your gut and keep a big eye out for any big ol' red flags then you should be fine.

Worst case scenario if you get creep vibes you can message a friend when you are in the ladies and say call me in 20 mins with an 'emergency'

And finally when you leave, subtley ensure you are not followed. I know that sounds extreme but better safe than sorry until you trust him.

Hope it goes well

Checking people out on social media is a false security check.

Loads of people date someone, they have a "clean" social media, nothing suspicious, then it comes out they have a DW and three kids, hidden away from all Facebook and Insta. I mean this is as old as time.

Plenty of folk curate their social media to hell, using old pictures, and then yeah... expectations don't meet reality.

I wouldn't personally even bother too much with this "let's have a nose around Facebook" stuff. You're just not getting the data you want, just the data they curate you to see.

Oh and I don't have any social media accounts, for those reasons above - all of it is bollocks and I know more about the people I know because I actually know them.