Guides/Updated
Meet somewhere public, get there and home on your own, and tell a friend where you are and who you are meeting. Keep your drink in sight, keep your phone charged, and leave whenever you want to. You never owe anyone a second hour, a ride or an explanation.
Before the date
- Talk in the app first and check their photos match the person you are chatting with.
- Pick a busy public place you know: a café, a bar you like, a park in daytime.
- Plan your own way there and back, so you can leave on your own schedule.
- Tell a friend the place, the time and the person's name and profile, and agree a check-in time.
- Keep personal details for later: your home address, your workplace and your last name can wait.
During the date
- Keep your drink with you, and order a new one if you lose sight of it.
- Drink only as much as you would with a stranger, because you are with one.
- Keep your phone charged and with you.
- Trust the feeling. If something is off, you can leave, mid-drink and without a reason.
- Ask a staff member for help if you need it; many bars and cafés are glad to call a taxi or walk you out.
After the date
Send your friend the check-in you promised. If it went well, take the next step at your own pace. If it did not, you do not have to explain yourself: a short, kind message or no reply at all is fine.
If someone made you feel unsafe, report them in the app so the safety team can act, and block them.
How The One Dating helps
- No bots and no fake accounts in your deck.
- A switch in messaging settings turns photos and videos off, so chats can stay text only until you are comfortable.
- Block or report anyone from their profile or your chat in two taps.
Questions people ask
- Where is the safest place for a first date?
- A busy public place you already know, such as a café or a favourite bar, at a time when other people are around. Avoid going to their home or having them pick you up for a first meeting.
- Should I tell someone about my first date?
- Yes. Tell a friend where you are going, who you are meeting and when you will check in, and send that check-in when you get home.
- What if I want to leave a date early?
- Leave. A polite 'thanks, I'm going to head off' is enough. Your safety and comfort come before anyone's feelings about the evening.