What Not to Include in Your Dating Profile

Here at Muddy Matches, we have a number of measures in place to help to protect our members and to encourage safe online dating, but it is still important to think about what you can do to protect yourself online.

One of the most important things you can do is to keep your personal details safe.

Don’t add your contact details

Some people think that they can save money on online dating site subscriptions by including their contact details in their profile. Some of these people even try to hide their contact details by spelling out phone numbers or using another language. Sharing your contact details is puts you at risk and really isn’t worth doing.

Don’t reveal your full name

On Muddy Matches, we only allow members to use their first name for their own protection. However, if you are on another dating website, we recommend that you do not use your full name as it may enable people to find your personal details online. It’s also a good idea not to use the start of your email address as your username.

Don’t say where you work

It is perfectly acceptable to say what industry you work in, however, it’s important not to say exactly where you work. For example, it’s OK to say that you are a teacher, but not to say which school you work at, or even a detailed description. Some people try to get around this by saying that “I work in a small school with only 300 pupils in [village name]”. A simple Google search would bring up your details and it’s advisable not to do so.

Don’t give out your schedule

It’s a good idea to tell people about your favourite hobbies; whether that’s horse riding, going to the gym or gardening. However, don’t be too specific about what clubs you belong to, what stables you go to, or what pub you go to on a Friday night. When you get to know someone better you can reveal this information, but remember that your dating profile can be viewed by everyone else who is on the dating website.

If you wouldn’t share the information with someone who you have just met in the street, don’t put it in your profile.