Adult Dating Websites (also known as Sex Dating Sites or Hook Up Dating Sites) can be a glorious thing. With millions of attractive members who are looking for sexual excitement, partner swapping, sexual encounters and more, they’re a hotbed for horny guys and girls to meet up. Does it sound too good to be true? Well, these sites – as with any sites – aren’t without potential pitfalls. If you’re considering joining an adult dating website, we’ve a few possible traps to look out for…
1: False profiles and messages
False profiles are a bit of a problem across all sorts of dating sites. Essentially, they’re profiles which are created to lure you in, but they’re not genuinely looking for dates or sexual encounters. These members might send you messages or links to their content, usually in a bid to encourage you to pay for services (such as more expensive membership, or pay-per-view content including adult videos and chats). It’s usually not too difficult to spot the fake profiles; they often send messages as soon as you sign up, without you even having completed your profile. When receiving messages, think about whether it’s likely this person would have approached you (maybe you have different interests, or their photos seem to be from different locations than the area they claim to live in, or maybe they’re strangely direct, or their chat seems very vague), and consider if it’s best to ignore or report them.
2: Hidden fees
A lot of adult dating sites will offer additional features and content for an additional fee. For example, you may want to pay to watch a certain XXX movie. A lot of sites offer webcam services, where you chat to models and pay a fee to see them strip or chat privately. This is fairly routine, but other sites might try to charge you to send a message or view a profile. You might even be asked to pay a fee to read a message. They’re not necessarily trying to trick you, but it’s good to be aware of potential additional fees before signing up. Another pitfall which a lot of free members fall into, is entering their credit card details for a free account. Always read the small print, which often suggests you’ll be charged a high monthly fee once your free trial is over, unless you cancel in time.
3: Restricted features
A lot of dating sites, adult dating included, will offer members a variety of membership options. Free or basic membership will probably be quite restricted, and you may find that you can’t send messages to members. Paying for membership should open up the site’s full list of features, but some may still be restricted. Any decent adult dating site which offers a variety of membership packages, should also provide a list of what’s available at each price point. Top tier membership may include additional benefits such as your profile appearing first in search results, or being able to chat to non-paying members. Work out what you want in advance, and make sure you can afford it before paying for membership. Otherwise, you may find you’re exploring the site without the features you need.
4: Profile clarity
This section encompasses a few points. Firstly, complete your profile and add photos. Without a finished profile page, you’ll find it harder to receive messages from members (because they might be put off contacting someone they don’t know anything about). Secondly, be aware of the kinds of information you’re putting on the site. Don’t add your personal contact details, as you never know who might be using a dating site. If you fall out with a member for some reason, you don’t want them to lash out at your workplace or home! Being honest is important, but you can also hold back on certain information until you know you can trust a person. Finally, be clear about what you want from potential partners, both in terms of sexual activities and commitments. That should help prevent awkward or misleading conversations later on.
The lowdown...
There are lots of obvious (often sexy) benefits to using adult dating websites. Namely, to meet hot singles, couples and groups, and to hook up online or offline. However, there are also a few things to be wary of. Mostly, your common sense should help you to avoid any big issues, but it’s also a good idea to be aware of fake profiles and messages. A lot of sites may also offer additional features, but these can incur hidden fees. If you’re on the wrong membership plan, you could find your features are restricted, which could cause problems when trying to arrange a hook-up. Lastly, we strongly recommend being clear when creating your profile, and taking precautions not to give away too much personal information. For more hints on potential pitfalls on adult dating and hook-up websites, we recommend checking advice on your chosen site.