Connected Online.

You’ve no way of knowing that someone you’ve met on a social networking site is really the person they say they are. For example, someone who pretends to be a teenage girl online could in reality be an adult man.

So if you arrange to meet someone whom you’ve got to know on the internet, you’re taking a risk.

If you’re really planning to find a date on the internet, it’s safest to use a paid internet dating site – the people you come across are probably more likely to be serious and genuine.

Online flirting tips for him

• Show you’re interested in the other person. Don’t ask things like ‘what colour are your panties?’ Just have a pleasant conversation like you would face to face!
• Make jokes.
• Don’t use sexy language, not even as a joke.
• Give compliments, but don’t go over the top.
• Ask questions, and talk about yourself.
• Make the other person feel special. Don’t send the same messages to different people.

Online flirting tips for her

• Give compliments, but don’t go over the top.
• Be yourself. Don’t pretend to be different from the way you are in real life.
• Don’t go along with things if you don’t want to. Don’t just try to please the other person – set your limits.
• Remember that men often aren’t such great talkers. Try and find a topic that interests both of you.
• Don’t fish for compliments too much.

Internet dating tips

If you decide to go ahead and meet someone you’ve got to know online:

• Never go alone when you meet someone for the first time. Always go with a friend. He or she can always leave you if you want.
• Take a mobile phone with you. Then you can send a text message to your friends or parents if your date goes wrong.
• Arrange to meet in a public place with a lot of people around.
• Arrange with someone to call you during your date. If you’re not happy, you can always say you’ve been called away urgently.
• Don’t promise anything until you’ve met in person. For example, don’t agree beforehand that you’re going to kiss someone.