Before we start...you need to recognize that the only way to stay trulysafe in a dating situation is to not date, period! There are always risksin dating, especially when you date strangers (blind dates, first dates andcyber-dates). In addition, teens should not be cyberdating. There are special rules for teens online. These tips are just for those over 18 yearsold.
Cyberdating is a little different from the other first dates, though. Whenyou first meet a cyberdate in person, offline, you feel as though you knowthem - the normal first date precautions are often tossed to the wind. Youknow their favorite actors, authors and foods. You know everything theyhave told you, but they may not have been telling you the truth.
You do notreally know them. So treat them as strangers, use all the normal precautionsyou use with strangers, even cute ones. You should not give any more information to a first cyberdate than you would to a stranger you meet ona plane, or in a club, or in a bar.
Women tend to lie about their weight or age, while men tend to lie about their income, level of baldness and athletic condition. Teenagers pretend to be older than they are. The one rule you can count on is that everyonelies a little. So, keep an open mind.
That photo they sent you may be five years old, heavily doctored up with agraphics program, from when they used to be thin or when they had hair, orof someone else altogether. The best thing about the Internet is also themost dangerous - a person's personality can show through, what you areinside gets a chance to shine without getting overpowered by what you areoutside. But, the cues we use in life; body language, dress, personalhygiene, tone of voice...the way we judge the truth of statements...arelost in cyberspace.