Dating Apps and Student Safety
Using dating apps has grown in popularity over the past few years, but some colleges say safety can become an issue
On many college campuses, finding matches through a dating app has become a trend. For the most part, people meet up, chat, have a good time together and either plan for another date or not. However, there is some risk involved with meeting someone from a dating app.
Most people are matched with strangers, and that alone could create unnecessary dangers for students. Some of these risks include stalking, non-consensual sex and other violent crimes, as well as meeting people who have created false identities on their dating app profile.
Minot State University, located in North Dakota, is one college that has had reports of such incidents happening to a few of their students.
"Unfortunately I did see a couple of students coming in to the office that were meeting individuals on social apps and these individuals are not being truthful to their identity as well as a stalking case," Title IX Director at MSU, Lisa Dooley said.
The Title IX office and health center at the college have started to post safety tips in the restrooms across the campus as a way to help educate students about the risks of using dating apps.
This doesn’t mean students should stop using the apps; they just need to be more cautious and know that they should always meet in public places and maybe even set up group activities for the first few dates. Most importantly, take all precautions and stay safe out there in the mobile dating world.