Dating sites for sex offenders

Safety tool protecting Tinder users against sex offenders ends partnership with dating app giant

Online dating is a fast growing industry with more and more people trusting dating sites to meet potential partners. Whilst the majority of dating site users are relatively truthful the mechanics of meeting people online allows lots of opportunity for sexual predators. There are many advantages to an online service such as matching politics or interests with potential dates beforehand. However there are people who will create misleading profiles to trick people into a relationship by misrepresenting themselves. These people are often practiced liars and will not show the normal signs of deceit when you are speaking to them. Additionally, these online predators will have discovered many new ways of creating fake evidence to back up their stories when needed beyond a fake profile.

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Commentary: But there are steps you can take to stay safer when searching for love online. After a couple days chatting with a brown-haired, square-jawed guy on a dating app, I did what I always do when a match seems mildly promising: I Googled him. Based on personal details he'd mentioned, I found his full name and, ultimately, a local news article chronicling his second arrest -- this one after being found drunk, naked and disoriented in a public area one night two years back. As can sometimes be the case when meeting people through dating apps and sites, you don't always know what you're getting into. You can see photos, bios and answers to quirky personality questions, but that's about it.

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As the number of dating app users continues to rise, so does the opportunity for sexual predators to find their victims. Sadly, the answer is no. While most dating apps have terms of service prohibiting convicted sex offenders from using their platform, there is no guarantee that these individuals or others who intend to sexually assault, will be screened out. According to a questionnaire that ProPublica used to learn about sexual assault and dating apps, out of respondents who use dating apps, said that they had experienced harassment or assault after using a dating app or being matched with a sex offender. This means it's up to users to be aware of the risks and to take precautions when meeting someone for the first time. Enduring sexual assault is a devastating and horrific experience anyone could ever endure.

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Sex offenders on dating sites: It's not always possible to swipe left

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission. The background check provider for Match Group, the corporate parent of Tinder, Match. Two years ago, Match Group tapped digital-safety platform Garbo to conduct background checks for users on its dating apps through a consumer-facing business tool that let users run a limited number of free screenings on a potential suitor using just their last name and phone number.

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