Florida: One Of The Most Dangerous States For Online Dating

Unfortunately, the world of online dating can come with risks. Some people may experience romance scams and fraud, matches with sex offenders, or even fall victim to dating violence.

TIME Magazine reported that in November 2023, a Nebraska man's appeal was rejected after he was sentenced to death for dismembering a woman he met through Tinder. In April, a Connecticut man was charged with murder, sexual misconduct, and more after strangling his Tinder date to death. In England in 2015, a 30-year-old man killed a woman on their first date after meeting on the popular dating app Plenty of Fish.

"We all have friends who have had wonderful success stories and met their lifetime partner through these apps. But that also comes with the understanding that there are also bad actors who are going to use these apps in various ways to perpetrate crimes," Erinn Robinson, Director of Media Relations at RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), told TIME.

TIME researched three popular dating apps to assess their security measures. Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder are the most widely used among people under 30. Both Hinge and Tinder have terms of use that ask users to affirm that they have not been convicted of, or pleaded no contest to, a felony or any crime involving violence, including sex crimes.

The terms and conditions for Hinge and Tinder also ask users to affirm that they are not required to register as a sex offender, though that is not specified on Bumble. But all three apps note in the fine print that users are responsible for their interactions with others and mention that they do not conduct criminal background checks on members or otherwise "inquire into the background" of users.

PrivacyJournal, a review website for security products and things concerning online privacy, compiled a ranking of all 50 states and how safe or dangerous it is to use online dating apps. They used factors like how many romance scams, instances of identity theft or fraud were reported, how many sex offenders there are, the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, and the crime rate.

Florida came in at No. 47, meaning it's the fourth most dangerous state in the U.S. for online dating, according to the report. Florida is the second-worst state in the country for both identity theft and fraud and the seventh-worst for becoming a victim of romance scams. However, Florida is a decent enough place to get away from the threat of violence from online dating matches. It's in the bottom ten nationwide for sex offenders and the bottom 15 for violent crime, as pointed out by the study.

Nevada is the most dangerous state for online dating. The state ranks second in romance scam reports per 100,000 residents, fourth in identity theft reports, and third in reports of fraud. The study also points out that people in Nevada are also the third-most likely Americans to become victims of fraud (442 out of every 100,000) and the fourth most likely to have their identities stolen (312 out of every 100,000).

Alaska is the second most dangerous state for online dating and Georgia is third. Alaska has the third-highest rate of romance scams, while Georgia leads the nation in reports of both identity theft and fraud.

Overall, the safest state for online dating is Vermont. The study points out that it has the second-lowest rate of reported identity theft and the lowest rate of STDs, and it ranks in the bottom 10 for violent crime and fraud. Maine is the second-safest state to find love online, and New Hampshire comes in third. According to the study, these states have the lowest and second-lowest violent crime rates in the nation.

They did note that the top three states don't appear to have any correlation between online dating safety and a region’s median income. Top-ranking Vermont comes in 20th with a median income of $73,991, Maine ranks 32nd with a median of $69,543, and New Hampshire is in the top 10 at $89,992.

According to their findings, you’re least likely to match with a sex offender in New Jersey. The state has only 50 offenders on the registry for every 100,000 people. You’ll find the highest concentration of registered sex offenders in Oregon, with 772 per 100,000 residents.

Mississippi has the lowest rate of romance scam reports. Only 3.1 out of every 100,000 Mississippians report having been "swindled" by a romantic partner. Louisiana is the next safest at 3.4, and Indiana comes in third place at 3.8. However, Mississippi ranks highest for sexually transmitted diseases. The state tops the list for STDs, mainly chlamydia and gonorrhea with 1,243 reports per 100,000 residents.

Take a look at the full report here.

Some of us are perfectly okay with romance on a budget. But sometimes coming up with inexpensive date ideas can be a challenge. That's why we came up with a list of the perfect inexpensive date ideas.

These days, people often meet on social media, dating apps, and through friends. And more people are opting for less formal first dates. It gets pricey paying for multiple dates at an expensive restaurant. Verywell Mind, a mental health platform listed some of the common reasons people are opting for "cheap" dates. Some of the reasons include inflation taking a toll on people's monthly budgets, having bigger-than-expected housing costs, they're just saving up, and others. But the good news is that dates don't have to go on hold or be a problem for someone due to limited finances.

Collin Rutherford went viral on X, formerly known as Twitter, after sharing his inexpensive date night idea called "bottle night." He and his girlfriend lock their phones, turn off the TV, and each grab a bottle of wine and talk. This style date is something they do just to "enjoy each other's presence." Although many people just considered it "getting drunk and hanging out," the thought behind it seems lighter on the pockets than most dates.

Unlike Rutherford's date idea, there are serval date options that don't involve sitting at home. And of course, that type of date is generally best when you know each other well. But some workarounds that can help a date be more budget-friendly include using coupons or vouchers, finding a place with perks like a bar with a trivia night and prizes on the line, and searching up some free local events.

Inexpensive dates can alleviate your social anxiety on a first date and the financial stress of any date. Take a look at 6 inexpensive date ideas below.

This date is a personal favorite because it's not overly complicated. Coffee dates are casual and very low pressure. It allows you and your date to talk in a relax environment. Bonus points, if you make a local coffee shop. Local coffee shops often have a more intimate setting.

By no means are we talking about an intense hike up and down mountains and hills. But a simple nature trail will do the trick. This kind of date gives you both a chance to enjoy nature and create a memorable experience. You can even plan for a sunrise or sunset walk for added romance. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

There are several local breweries and wineries that offer tours throughout their establishment. These establishments usually have fun tours that break down the process of how their product is made. Sharing the experience with your partner is even better because you’ll get to talk about what you both think of the drinks. Some breweries and tours include tastings and often start at just $15 per person. Sometimes these places offer games and live music.

Picnic dates are a classic. You can get as elaborate as you want to and work it into any budget. You can have a picnic almost anywhere as long as there's a place to drop a picnic blanket or a table for eating. Other than having food on hand, it wouldn't hurt to have a card game handy or a Bluetooth speaker at hand to prevent awkward moments. Just a heads up, this date involves careful planning. If it's peak sunshine and mosquito season, be sure to pack your sunscreen and bug spray.

Volunteer dates can work really well for established couples. They can create new opportunities to meet people and make couple of friends. Obviously, a volunteer date may not be a good idea if you're separated the entire time. So, this one may require a bit of research. Unless you're looking to add a bit of adventure  or something different to your date.

Garage sales, estate sales, antiquing, thrifting, whichever you choose can make for a fun budget-friendly date. It's like a scavenger hunt where you don’t know what the items are you're supposed to find. But whatever you two may find you can always laugh and bond about it. There's even the possibility of a fashion show if you find yourself in a place with a load of vintage clothes. The same concept can also be applied to bookstores and music stores.