Five dating app dilemmas answered by experts – The Guardian

In an online wild west populated by scammers and hackers, dating apps pose challenges beyond just finding a partner. It’s getting harder to tell if your date is who they say they are, and that’s before you consider the data security and privacy implications of using the apps on your smartphone.It’s difficult to maintain privacy when apps such as Hinge, Tinder and Bumble need to collect data to match you with potential dates. Then there’s the data you share with other users – including your sexual orientation, age and social media information – that could put you at risk if it gets into the wrong hands.Here’s what you need to know about using dating apps safely and privately, while still getting the most out of them.Should you use your real name in your profile?When creating a dating profile, you’ll need to display some information for potential matches to see. But it’s pretty easy to track someone down online if you know their first name and occupation, and you might not be comfortable with this.Thankfully, most dating apps cater for people who wish to maintain some level of online privacy. Bumble, for example, allows you to use initials, shortened versions of…
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