Leo Gillick
Growing up in the age of the early internet, one thing was drilled into me over and over again. Meeting strangers on the internet is incredibly dangerous. And yet, here we are today, primarily meeting new love interests through mostly anonymous online dating apps. The danger hasn’t gone anywhere; we’re just more risk-averse when it comes to meeting fellow desperate people.
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A study by PrivacyJournal has delved into the dangers of online dating, highlighting which states in the US are the riskiest, and why. It’s a fascinating study that should be adhered to by anyone looking to start swiping.
Most Dangerous State for Online Dating
The extensive study takes many things into account. Dangers of online dating involve more than just violence and abuse. There is also the risk of identity theft, STDs, and romance scams. If you don’t know what a romance scam is, look up the Tinder Swindler.
Also, if you get a message from Brad Pitt telling you he needs a few $1000 to fly to you and propose, it’s probably a scam.
High-risk relationships: The most common fear for people engaging in online dating is the danger of violence. The study by PrivacyJournal looked at the rates of sex offenders in various US states and included this as a factor for overall safety.
- Oregon has the highest number of sex offenders per capita. There are a shocking 790 per 100,000 people in the state. I would suggest using Tinder Passport if you happen to be unlucky enough to be stuck there.
Dirty Dating: Another risk factor making online dating so dangerous is the risk of a dirty hookup. There is no shame in looking for a booty call online, but you need to know they’re clean.
- It turns out that Louisiana has the highest number of people carrying STDs. There are 1,149 per 100,000.
Sexy Scams: The state with the highest number of romance scams is Arizona. In these cases, people will build a fake online personality and trick people into sending money through a fake romance situation. They are increasingly common and are a dangerous online dating scam for the vulnerable.
A Clear Winner
However, the overall most dangerous US state for online dating is actually Nevada. This state has been ranked among the most risky for people looking for love online. It scores high in all the parameters listed by the statistics website. That’s unlucky for people stuck in the Silver State.
