Dating app enhancement

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dafman

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# 243435 11-Dec-2018 18:53

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I've been thinking ...

One problem with dating apps is that people may find themselves in a vulnerable place with a stranger.

A simple enhancement would be to:

1. Add an in-app option for users an to send meet up arrangements (ie, location and other app recipient) to a secure location on the app provider's servers. In doing so, the user consents to this information being made available to authorities either at users request (see next point, SOS button) or at the request of authorities to app provider.

2. Add an SOS button which, if activated, automatically sends an alert advising meet up details to national police emergency number.

4. Following conclusion of the meet up, the user simply deletes the meet up details from the server.

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# 2143549 11-Dec-2018 19:18

It's a good idea. Even so, it may provide a false sense of security in some scenarios.

SirHumphreyAppleby

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# 2143556 11-Dec-2018 19:42

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Let's not sugar coat it, these are hook up apps.

An SOS button is only useful if you have the wherewithal to use it. Depending on the function of a mobile device is unwise. As @gzt suggests, it provides a false sense of security.

Authorities are usually unable to do anything without an official report or complaint being made, and don't have the resources to investigate every time someones 'date' goes sour. In the event that there is an investigation, the authorities can't and shouldn't know who is using apps in order to 'request' information from them. As many of these apps are based overseas, they also have no way to compel information to be provided, and few would be likely to co-operate. The relative anonymity offered by the apps alone makes it difficult unless you happen to know their profile name. Once their phone and other belongings are lost, there is a good chance there would be nothing but a persons name to go on. You can't rely on IP address due to things like CG-NAT, and I'm sure app providers don't have access to other unique identifiers such as the phone's IMEI. I.e. there is nothing they can look up to even begin searching for the user.

Finally, such a feature could be detrimental to victims, because the defense will, quite rightly, ask why the victim failed to use this feature when it was available to them.

Fred99

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# 2143599 11-Dec-2018 21:21

Good lord - I thought that "dating app enhancement" was going to be a graphics/photoshop thread - digital cosmetic surgery, lose 30kg, wrinkles and the 2005 tattoo etc. and look "ripped". Instead it's about the perils of what we used to call a "blind date".

gehenna

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# 2143632 11-Dec-2018 21:23

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Personal responsibility would solve some issues easier than tech can. Tell someone where you're going and who you are meeting, and arrange to check in with your friend/family/contact at certain intervals.

(Not commenting on the tourist murder case with this statement, just a general comment)

blakamin

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# 2143639 11-Dec-2018 21:30

gehenna:

Personal responsibility would solve some issues easier than tech can.

Yeah, How about some men just stop killing women, FFS?

gehenna:

Tell someone where you're going and who you are meeting, and arrange to check in with your friend/family/contact at certain intervals.

If you're heading out for a drink with someone, you really shouldn't have to do this... Seriously. It's more of a sad reflection on males than anything else.

gehenna

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# 2143646 11-Dec-2018 21:52

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Common sense dictates if you're meeting a stranger for the first time, in a scenario where potential inhibitions may be reduced due to, say, alcohol, then you should take some precautions. Especially if some expectations have been set by one or other party that the other may not then feel comfortable with after meeting. I'm not weighing in on anything other than that. We teach stranger danger to children, what changes just because you're a supposed adult?

networkn

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# 2143692 11-Dec-2018 22:46

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gehenna:

Common sense dictates if you're meeting a stranger for the first time, in a scenario where potential inhibitions may be reduced due to, say, alcohol, then you should take some precautions. Especially if some expectations have been set by one or other party that the other may not then feel comfortable with after meeting. I'm not weighing in on anything other than that. We teach stranger danger to children, what changes just because you're a supposed adult?

Exactly. Saying silly things like "why don't men stop killing women" isn't going to make it happen, no matter how exasperating one might find it.

Until such utopia exists, use common sense, share your location, don't walk in dark alleys alone etc.. It won't prevent all crime, but it will help somewhat.

blakamin

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# 2143698 11-Dec-2018 22:56

networkn:

gehenna:

Common sense dictates if you're meeting a stranger for the first time, in a scenario where potential inhibitions may be reduced due to, say, alcohol, then you should take some precautions. Especially if some expectations have been set by one or other party that the other may not then feel comfortable with after meeting. I'm not weighing in on anything other than that. We teach stranger danger to children, what changes just because you're a supposed adult?

Exactly. Saying silly things like "why don't men stop killing women" isn't going to make it happen, no matter how exasperating one might find it.

Until such utopia exists, use common sense, share your location, don't walk in dark alleys alone etc.. It won't prevent all crime, but it will help somewhat.

This is the attitude that keeps it going, because let's face it, it's only women that need to inform someone, and that's only because men are farking a-holes.

Teach young males that it's NOT alright to treat women like a trophy or a score, ffs..

That's what will make it happen... Not your sitting behind a keyboard and whining "saying silly things wont make it happen".

I work in a place with young male apprentices and I pull them up on this sh*t, because I have daughters that I'd like to see be able to go out when they're old enough.

If you do nothing and pretend it's f***ing "utopia", that's all it will be!

Pathetic.

stinger

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# 2143701 11-Dec-2018 23:00

So Stuff had an article today about using the SOS features of your smartphone. However, there was no information about using the SAFE SMS service (which is free on all networks). By itself, it won't prevent unfortunate events happening, but will help the police if it did happen.

networkn

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# 2143702 11-Dec-2018 23:00

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blakamin:

Pathetic.

Get a grip. Absolutely no need for all the theatrics. It might surprise you to know, you aren't the only one with kids/daughters and we all want them to be safe.

You can educate all you want, you can *mandate* all you want, and you can *wish* all you want, but this might get 85% of people safe 90% of the time, but there are mentally ill people, people who accidentally overdose on drugs, or take drugs when they shouldn't, alcohol can play a factor along with many other things that mean you will *always* need to employ common sense as a first line of defense.

*No-one* suggested doing nothing.

gehenna

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# 2143705 11-Dec-2018 23:06

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Yep. We live in the world as it is, not how we want it to be. As it is people need to be safe, and most of those people are women. In the meantime, we work as individuals and as a society to get to where we want it to be. No one is saying it won't and shouldn't change.

mattwnz

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# 2143706 11-Dec-2018 23:15

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gehenna:

Common sense dictates if you're meeting a stranger for the first time, in a scenario where potential inhibitions may be reduced due to, say, alcohol, then you should take some precautions. Especially if some expectations have been set by one or other party that the other may not then feel comfortable with after meeting. I'm not weighing in on anything other than that. We teach stranger danger to children, what changes just because you're a supposed adult?

For a start I think first meeting in a public place with other people around is a must for safety.

Shadowfoot

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# 2143793 12-Dec-2018 08:24

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When I saw "Dating app enhancement" I thought "Wow! I didn't know Geekzone included a dating app."

Including an SOS function within the dating app would be the wrong place. Having someone fire up the app while on a date would, at the least, send the signal "I'm bored with my current date, what else is there?"

Glympse is a good app to use to temporarily let someone know where you are.

@Shadowfoot on Twitter

gehenna

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# 2143803 12-Dec-2018 08:41

And Find My Friends exists in the ios space already. Seems not many people know though.

dafman

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# 2143832 12-Dec-2018 09:03

gehenna:

Personal responsibility would solve some issues easier than tech can. Tell someone where you're going and who you are meeting, and arrange to check in with your friend/family/contact at certain intervals.

(Not commenting on the tourist murder case with this statement, just a general comment)

I'm not suggesting that tech replace personal responsibility. It's just that sometimes people exercise poor judgement (most of us do at some time in our life) and any tools that might assist someone out of a uncertain situation are better than none.

Rather than have the SOS call emergency services, another option would be to send current location to a designated contact.

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