From Experience to Awareness: Why This Matters

This topic is personal to me because of my own experiences with online dating. I spent years exploring different platforms—on and off for nearly two decades—including MiGente, eHarmony, Match, Plenty of Fish, OkCupid, ChristianMingle, and Facebook Dating.

Throughout those experiences, I encountered countless fake profiles, dishonest individuals, and people misrepresenting themselves. Some used outdated photos, others hid the fact that they were married, and many were simply not truthful about who they were.

In one situation, I was in a relationship with someone I met online for six months before discovering he was married. I have had men openly ask me to be their mistress, even explaining how they would financially “take care” of me. I have come across individuals dealing with serious personal issues who were not in a healthy place to be dating, as well as people who were recently divorced—or still married—already seeking new relationships online.

I have also encountered scammers firsthand, including those claiming to be in the military on secret missions who conveniently could not share basic details about themselves. After years of these experiences, I can honestly say that sharing everything I’ve encountered would take more than just a page—it would take a whole book.

Over time, these repeated situations led to frustration, emotional exhaustion, and ultimately my decision to stop using online dating altogether. Although I was fortunate enough not to fall victim to financial scams, I still experienced the emotional impact of investing time and energy into people who were not genuine.

Despite this, my experiences have allowed me to help others. I have guided friends and family members in recognizing red flags and avoiding scams, and sometimes, looking back, a few of those situations even became stories we could laugh about.

I am passionate about this topic because I understand both the risks and the importance of being informed when navigating digital relationships. More importantly, I do not want others to be deceived or taken advantage of. As technology continues to evolve, I hope that social media and dating platforms move toward stronger identity verification methods, such as ID-based verification systems, to better protect users. I also believe there should be some form of feedback or accountability system, similar to reviews we leave for products, places, or services, so people have more transparency when forming connections with others online.

Until then, the best protection we have is awareness, caution, and staying informed.

So until that day comes… keep swiping smart. 😉