Woburn, MA – July 6, 2021 – Today Kaspersky released new survey results finding 42% of people prefer to only meet with someone in person who has antibodies or a vaccine certificate. The survey also found that the number of people who do not meet any of their dating matches offline has more than doubled, from 16% to 35%. Overall the survey revealed consumers to be paying more attention to their health and personal safety while dating.
During the pandemic, people spent more time on dating apps and the number of users is growing. At the same time, consumers have generally become more anxious about meeting face-to-face.
Daters’ safety concerns extend beyond vaccination status. Fifty percent of users reported feeling nervous when they meet a date in person for the first time, while 18% said they actually feel unsafe.
In order to alleviate some of these worries, the majority (72%) of those who use online dating sites and apps wanted to first talk by phone or video with a date before they agree to meet.
“With all the stay-at-home policies and restrictions around the world, online dating seems to play a major role in people’s lives today,” said David Jacoby, security researcher at Kaspersky. “Still, the transition from ‘online’ to ‘offline’ is a leap of faith for many: there isn’t only the healthcare situation to consider, but also more evergreen risks of meeting with a stranger. In order to continue enjoying online and offline dates in confidence, it’s important to be mindful of the data you share with your potential date, so that if you change your mind about meeting someone, you are always in control of the situation, know how much information you’ve shared about yourself, and how it can be used.”
“After all, it is the most human need to meet in person after months of isolation,” said therapist Birgitt Hölzel from the Munich practice Liebling + Schatz. “Humans are social creatures, we need companionship, exchange and closeness, even physical closeness. Sure, dating apps have made it possible to connect virtually with new people during the pandemic. A physical encounter is something else entirely. It's about body language, smell and touch. Only when these components come together can we really decide how we feel about that person. The pandemic has shaken us. Many things we took for granted pre-pandemic have imploded, the insecurities, especially on the level of physical contact are enormous. That's why it's a normal reaction for dating app users to play it safe by insisting on meeting only those who take their need for security and safety seriously. Because feeling like you’re being taken seriously is an essential aspect of building a successful partnership.”
Here are a few simple tips Kaspersky recommends, to help you keep your personal data private while dating online:
- Share photos that don’t give away information such as your address or employer, for example. Instead use photos from trips or landmarks, with no personal data or other people shown.
- Use the built-in messenger function of dating platforms instead of sharing your phone number or other messaging apps. If you decide to move to another messenger, don’t forget to set it up to keep your data private and secure.
- Use an effective security solution that offers advanced protection across multiple devices. Kaspersky Security Cloud can help manage your apps and remove permissions where this is not necessary.
To make offline dating safe and enjoyable, you can follow simple tips, recommended by therapist Stefan Ruzas from the Munich practice Liebling + Schatz:
- Always meet in public the first few times, whether it's at a restaurant, going for a walk or to the movies.
- Give someone you trust all the details of your meeting – when, where, and who.
- Do not meet near to where you live. This way you cannot be followed.
- Also, do not share your address right away.
- If you have an uneasy feeling about a person, end the date. You are not obliged to do anything.
- Trust your instincts and do not be unnecessarily trusting.
The full report is available via this link.
About the survey
In June 2021, Kaspersky commissioned Sapio to conduct an online survey of more than 18,000 respondents to explore the role of dating apps and the current state of technology and relationships. The sample included 2,000 respondents from the UK, 1000 from each of the US, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands; and 500 in each of the following: Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, UAE, South Africa, Turkey, Egypt, China, Japan, India, Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, Columbia, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Mexico and Russia.
About Kaspersky
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help 240,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at usa.kaspersky.com.
Media Contact
Sawyer Van Horn
sawyer.vanhorn@Kaspersky.com
(781) 503-1866
