How to Date Safely on Valentine's Day - Los Angeles Local News, Weather, and Traffic

Online dating safety is always at the top of my list on Valentine's Day. I'm often asked, "Is online dating safe?" The answer is yes, but you should take the steps to protect your identity in the digital courtship process until you're completely comfortable with the person you've had several dates with.

After the Manti Te'o story, singles are still asking how they can be sure that someone is authentic and genuine. Having a digital pen pal won't help you fall in love again, so you need to take the steps to move your relationship from online to offline.

While being a cyber-sleuth can put a damper on romance, knowing more about your date might help you feel safer when meeting someone you've only corresponded with online.

Since over 1/3 of the U.S. population using online dating sites, it's time to review some important online dating safety tips.

Safety First

• Meet in a public place
• Avoid late night dates
• Limit the number of drinks
• Don't let your date know your home address

Have a Check-in Partner

• Let a friend know exactly where you're going
• Check in with them during a rest-room break
• Provide your date's username and the site you met on to your friend

Make Google Your Best Friend

• Check your date's email address.
• Type in your date's phone number
• Create a Google Voice account for dating. It's free at Google.com/voice.

Find Out More on Facebook

• Check out your date's Facebook page before meeting them
• See if you have friends in common that you know in real life
• Notice his or her "About" page to see their relationship status
• Check to see what types of pages they've "liked" to help the conversation

At the end of the digital day, digital courtship only works if you have the opportunity to meet in person. Online dating is a numbers game. You need to play to win.