I've done a pretty deep dive on this over the past year so I can offer some thoughts.
Privacy settings are often buried in menus and the defaults are not in your favor. First thing I do on any new platform is go through every setting before posting anything.
A few things that have helped me:
- Check reviews from the past 6 months specifically, older reviews get outdated fast
- Look for whether the site shows you real profiles before asking for payment
- Avoid anything that asks for your social security or excessive personal details upfront
- See if there's a working customer support email or chat — if not, that's a red flag
Currently using Datelink as my main go-to and it's been solid for the last few months. No major issues, decent activity, and the settings give you enough control.
Take what's useful and leave the rest. Everyone's situation is a little different.