It can be daunting meeting up with someone for the first time, whether that’s a date or an online friend. It can be difficult to know if you should trust them, especially in the early stages of getting to know someone. While we want to believe that everyone has good intentions, sometimes that’s just not the case. Make sure you’re looking after your safety when you’re meeting someone new with these following tips.
Meet in a public place
Make sure you’re meeting up in a safe place that’s public and easy to access, and avoid going to the person’s place before you’ve met them. If you know it’ll be dark by the time you finish your date or meetup, park your car under a streetlamp in a busy spot so you can safely get to it. If you're taking public transport, try and set up a meeting place nearby so you won't have far to walk.
Have an exit plan in place
If you’re starting to feel uncomfortable and know that you need to head out, make sure you have an exit strategy. Have a friend on stand-by who you can call to pick you up or organise an Uber home. Avoid getting your date to pick you up in their car if you haven’t yet already met them. If things go south, you have to rely on them to drive you home which is why it’s best to organise your own transport to and from your destination.
If you’re still feeling a little unsure, turn on your location settings and share your location with your friends or family. Or use Sonder’s Check on me feature to let one of our team members check up on you at a certain time to ensure you’re safe.
Check on me
'Check on me' can be used if you would like a Sonder team member to check on you at anytime. All you have to do is just choose a time for us to touch base, at any time day or night.
How to:
1. Tap 'Check on me' from the home screen
2. Select the length of time you think you'll need, or the time at which you want us to check on you.
3. Let us know any additional details about the person you're meeting or where - this is optional.
4. When the time is up, we will check in and ask you to confirm you're okay. If you need more time, you can use the "snooze" button to extend the session.
If we don't get a response from you at the agreed time, we will do everything we can to get in touch to confirm you're safe and well. If you don't answer, we'll send a member of our team to your last known location. We do this so that we know you're safe and well - it's what we're here for.
If you have any questions or need extra support, we're here to help you anytime, in any language. Simply start a chat with us via the home screen of the Sonder app.
Image credit: The Notebook
All content is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional.