Meet with clarity. Keep your independence.

Build trust at a reasonable pace

Keep early conversations on the platform while you get to know someone. Do not share passwords, verification codes, financial-account details or identity documents in a dating chat. Keep your home and workplace details private.

Phone verification and photo moderation help check some aspects of an account. They are not independent identity checks or guarantees of intentions. A polished profile, a generous promise or a familiar photo is not proof of trustworthiness.

Notice pressure and financial requests

Be cautious about urgency, secrecy, inconsistent stories and attempts to move the conversation away from the platform immediately. Pause if someone asks for travel fees, emergency payments, cryptocurrency, investments or access to your accounts.

Do not send money to establish trust or pay a fee to unlock an introduction. If something feels wrong, stop the conversation and use SDC’s support and reporting routes. Keep relevant evidence without publicly exposing someone’s private information.

Make the first meeting public

Choose a staffed public place, tell someone you trust the plan and arrange your own transport. Agree on the venue and time before travelling. You can leave at any point and do not owe a move to a private location.

Keep control of drinks, belongings and your way home. Choose a meeting length and budget you are comfortable with. An expensive invitation is not a reason to ignore discomfort.

Consent and generosity

Consent is specific, voluntary and ongoing. A gift, meal, previous date or agreed support never creates consent to intimacy or continued contact. Either person can decline or change their mind.

Respect a no, a pause or a request to stop messaging. Discretion means handling each other’s information carefully; it must not mean isolating someone or discouraging them from seeking support.

Report concerns

For platform support, use the route linked on our contact page. In an immediate emergency in Australia, call 000. This editorial website does not monitor dating conversations or provide an emergency response.

For further online-safety information, see the Australian eSafety Commissioner’s online dating guidance.