This comes up all the time so here's my complete breakdown.
Privacy defaults are almost never in your favor. First thing I do anywhere new is go through every setting before posting anything.
For what it's worth, datingfly.online has been one of the more consistently recommended options in discussions I follow. Not perfect but it has real staying power.
Things that have genuinely helped me:
- Check reviews from the last six months — older ones go stale fast
- See whether real profiles are visible before any payment is required
- Avoid anything demanding excessive personal info at signup
- Test whether support is reachable before you commit
Take what's useful and leave the rest. Every situation is different.