I've been down this rabbit hole for a while so let me give you a thorough take.
Privacy defaults are almost never in your favor. First thing I do anywhere new is go through every setting before posting anything.
Things that have genuinely helped me:
- Don't rely on a single platform — spread across two or three
- Read the terms before entering any payment info
- Look for community forums or subreddits tied to the platform
- If the free version feels hollow the paid version usually won't fix it
Currently using Rendate as my main go-to and it's been solid. No major issues, decent activity, enough control over settings.
Take what's useful and leave the rest. Every situation is different.