First date safety tips: a practical checklist

Before you meet

Most of the work happens before the date. A few minutes of checking can save you a bad evening.

• Video call first: a short call confirms the person matches their photos and gives you a feel for them. Someone who keeps refusing a call is a warning sign.
• Look them up: a quick search of their name and a reverse image search of a photo can catch obvious fakes.
• Keep chatting on the app until you're comfortable. Moving to your personal number early gives away more than you might want.
• Choose the place yourself or agree on one you know. Avoid somewhere isolated, or anyone's home, for a first meeting.

Who should know about the date?

Always tell at least one trusted friend or family member.

• Share the person's name, profile and a photo.
• Share where you're going and roughly when you expect to be done.
• Share your live location with them for the duration of the date if you like.
• Agree on a check-in time, and what they should do if you don't reply.

On the day: the checklist

• Meet in public: a busy café, market, museum or restaurant, ideally in daylight or early evening.
• Arrange your own transport: both ways. Don't accept a pick-up from home, and don't get into their car on a first date.
• Keep your phone charged: carry a power bank and some cash in case you need to leave on your own.
• Watch your drink: order it yourself, keep it in sight, and don't drink more than you're comfortable with.
• Keep personal details private: your home address, workplace specifics, and anything financial: bank details, UPI IDs, OTPs or card numbers.

What's a good exit plan?

You never owe anyone the rest of an evening. Decide in advance how you'd leave.

• Set a natural end time when you agree the plan ("I've got something at 7").
• Ask your friend to call at a set time so you have an easy reason to go.
• Know the nearest metro, auto stand or main road before you arrive.
• If you feel unsafe, go to staff at the venue, move to a busy area, and call 112, India's emergency number.

Red flags to notice during the date

Most dates are perfectly pleasant. A few behaviours are worth noticing early, because they tend to get worse rather than better.

• Pushing past a no: on drinks, on staying longer, on going somewhere else.
• Pressure to move somewhere private: their place, a car, an empty spot "just for a minute".
• Stories that don't match: the job, the city or the age they told you in chat.
• Talk of money: a business idea, an investment tip, or a problem that needs cash.
• Anger or sulking when you set a boundary or check your phone.

Any one of these is a good reason to end the date and head home on your own.

After the date

Text your friend that you're home. If the person was rude, threatening or not who they said they were, report them on the app so they can't do it to someone else. Apps that verify every member make this easier to act on. On SwipeTrip, every member is verified with their Aadhaar and a live selfie, and for declared trips you can add an emergency contact, check in and use SOS.

Questions people ask

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  Should I share my phone number before a first date?

  Only when you're comfortable. Chatting and calling inside the app first keeps your number private until you've met and decided you want to keep in touch.

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  Is it rude to ask for a video call before meeting?

  No. It's a normal, sensible step, and most genuine people are happy to do a short call. Repeated excuses are a reason to be cautious.

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  What should I do if a date makes me uncomfortable?

  Leave. You don't owe an explanation. Ask venue staff for help if needed, use your own transport home, and report the person on the app afterwards.

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  What number do I call in an emergency in India?

  112 is India's single emergency number for police, fire and ambulance.