Data handling
Every dating site collects some personal data, at minimum an email address and whatever you put in your profile. A privacy-focused site tells you plainly what it collects, why, who it shares it with and how long it keeps it. In the UK you also have legal rights over that data, including the right to ask for a copy and, in many cases, to have it deleted, as the Information Commissioner's Office explains.
Read a site's privacy policy before you sign up. If it is vague, or the marketing promises more than the policy does, believe the policy.
Profile exposure
Think about who can see your profile and photos. On some sites your profile is visible to anyone, including people who are not members. A privacy-focused site limits what non-members see and lets you control your photos.
- Your profile shows a username you choose rather than your real name.
- Photos you upload start as private. You choose which photos to make public, and you can move them back.
- Other members only see your private photos after you share them with that person in a conversation.
Even with good controls, anything you share with another member can be screenshotted. Our guide on sharing names and photos slowly covers how to pace that.
Account security
Use a unique password and a separate email address for dating. Turn on two-step verification for that email account, as the National Cyber Security Centre recommends, because whoever controls your email can usually reset your dating account. The separate email and phone guide explains how to set this up.
Payments and devices
Card statements, app notifications and shared devices reveal more than most people expect. See payments, receipts and location tracking and notifications and shared devices.
- Memberships are currently paid by cryptocurrency.
- Optional analytics cookies are only stored on your device if you accept them in the cookie banner.
Leaving
You should be able to leave without contacting anyone. You can permanently delete your account from Settings. This removes your profile, photos, messages and login. Some records, such as anonymised safety reports and billing records, are kept as the privacy policy describes.
For the full detail, read our privacy policy and cookie policy. Our online dating privacy checklist brings all of this together.