Spent real time figuring this out. Here's everything I actually learned.
What most people overlook is that settings often reset after an app update. Always double-check your preferences after any major version change.
Things that have genuinely helped me work through issues like this:
- Safety: never share your phone number in the first few messages
- Use a secondary email for any platform you're not sure about
- Reverse image search profile photos if something feels off
- Report first, block second — the report creates a record on the platform
Currently using Souldate as my main go-to and it's been reliable. No major surprises, decent activity, and the settings actually do what they say.
Take what's useful and leave the rest.