Safe Dating Guide

Dating is worth doing carefully

Meeting someone new is exciting. It can also bring up feelings you weren't expecting — hope, vulnerability, anxiety, disappointment. All of that is normal. This guide exists because we want your experience on Merydia to be genuinely good for you, not just in the moment, but over time.

Take it at whatever pace feels right for you.

Before you meet

Trust your instincts — they're data. If something feels off about a conversation or a profile, pay attention to that feeling. You don't owe anyone an explanation for stepping back.

Keep personal details private until you're ready. There's no rush to share your home address, workplace location, phone number, or financial details. A genuine connection will respect that.

Do a quick search. Once you and a match have both accepted an introduction, we'll share your full names with each other — look up your match's name, photo, or LinkedIn profile before meeting. Reverse image search is free and takes thirty seconds. If their photos appear under a different name elsewhere, take note. Please keep what you learn about someone else's identity between the two of you, and don't share it further.

Tell someone where you're going. Share the name of your match, the venue, and your expected return time with a friend or family member. This is good practice for a first meeting with anyone new.

Plan your own transport. Drive yourself, catch a rideshare, or use public transport. Having your own way home means you can leave whenever you want, without negotiation.

Warning signs during conversations

The following patterns are associated with romance fraud and online scams. They are more common than most people expect, including on professional and curated platforms.

Moving off-platform very quickly. A genuine connection is happy to keep talking here. Pressure to switch immediately to WhatsApp, Telegram, or another platform — especially early in a conversation — is a recognised scam signal.

A story that escalates fast. Intense declarations of connection within days, claims of love before you've met, or a sense that this relationship is unusually special and moving unusually quickly — these can be genuine, but they can also be tactics designed to lower your guard.

An identity that doesn't add up. Military deployment overseas, offshore contract work, a recent bereavement used to explain why they can't meet, a professional profile that seems slightly inconsistent. None of these is conclusive on its own, but combinations matter.

Any request involving money. Merydia will never ask you to send money to another user. No legitimate match will ask you to transfer funds, buy gift cards, invest in a platform they recommend, or help them out of an emergency. If this happens, stop the conversation and report it immediately. This applies even if you've been talking for weeks and feel you've built a real connection — that connection can be engineered.

Pressure or urgency. Scammers and emotionally unsafe people often create time pressure: "I need to know now," "If you really trusted me you would." Healthy relationships don't require you to act before you're ready.

At a first meeting

Meet in a public place for the first few dates. Cafés, restaurants, and bars work well. Avoid private locations until you know someone well.

Stay in control of your drinks. Don't leave your drink unattended, and don't accept drinks from someone you don't yet trust.

It's okay to leave. If you feel uncomfortable at any point — for any reason, or no reason — you can leave. You don't need to justify it or be polite about it. Your safety comes first.

Let the conversation be two-directional. Healthy connections involve mutual curiosity. If the conversation is consistently one-sided, or you feel you're being interviewed or assessed, that's worth noticing.

Looking after yourself emotionally

Rejection is part of the process — and it's survivable. Not every introduction will lead somewhere, and that's not a reflection of your worth. The weekly introduction model means there's always a next week.

Take breaks when you need them. Dating can be emotionally tiring, especially if you're going through other things in life. It's okay to pause your account and come back when you're in a better place.

Be honest with yourself about what you're looking for. Clarity about your own intentions — and staying honest about them with your matches — makes for better outcomes for everyone.

Watch for patterns you bring with you. Sometimes people find themselves drawn to connections that recreate difficult dynamics from the past. If you notice this happening, it might be worth talking to someone — a therapist, a trusted friend, or a support line.

If something goes wrong

If you feel unsafe right now, call 000.

If a match has asked you for money or you suspect fraud: Report it to us immediately using the in-app report function. You can also report directly to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch: www.scamwatch.gov.au

If you've experienced abuse, harassment, or have received threatening or sexual content you didn't ask for: You can report to the eSafety Commissioner, Australia's national online safety regulator: www.esafety.gov.au/report

If your complaint to Merydia is not resolved to your satisfaction within 30 days: You have the right to escalate it directly to the eSafety Commissioner at www.esafety.gov.au/complaints. We will always tell you about this right if your complaint remains open.

To report something within Merydia: Use the flag icon on any message or conversation, or email us at safety@merydia.app. We take all reports seriously and aim to respond promptly.