If you are on Match.com, you may have seen the new Match.com verification system. This is an option that let’s you verify who you are by connecting to your social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, even LinkedIn. Let us repeat that: on a dating site, Match, you connect to your social media accounts so people know who you are.
What could possibly go wrong?
Do You Want People to Know Your Real Identity on an Online Dating Site Such as Match.com?
One of the reasons that people have a level of comfort putting themselves out there on a dating site such as Match.com or OKCupid is that there is a certain amount of anonymity. You pick a user name, and you only have to reveal your true identity to someone if you choose to do so.
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Now, sites such as Twitter and Facebook have a “verified user” status available for public figures, celebrities, and the like, so that people who follow those accounts can be assured that they are in fact following the real deal.
But certainly public figures of that stature are very unlikely to be on a dating site, and if they are, they aren’t going to want to announce it to the world.
But even the average citizen isn’t going to be (and shouldn’t be) comfortable with announcing to the world who they really are on a dating site. After all, if people wanted to publicly out themselves as being on a dating site they wouldn’t need sites such as Match and OK Cupid. Instead something like ImSingleAndHeresWhoIam.com would be the hottest dating site on the Internet.
Match.com says the reason to verify your identity is to “let the Match community know that you are who you say you are.” But, who you say you are on a dating site is “CuteBlonde” or “ARealMan”, not Jane Doe or John Smith.
Now, perhaps, if you verify your email address, then it doesn’t really give up who you are, at least as compared to giving Match your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+ identity. But they already have your email address, which you have already verified when you set up your account on Match.com.
And Let’s Talk About Giving Match.com Your Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ Account
We have written before about the issue of sharing across social media platforms. When you log in to Facebook or another social media account from somewhere else (such as, oh, say, Match.com), you run the risk that they are sharing all sorts of things about you between the entities.
Now, Match doesn’t overtly say what they are sharing – and it may be that right now they are sharing nothing. Or maybe they are. At minimum, they are sharing your identity with “the Match community”.
But perhaps more importantly, when you verify your social media account(s) with Match.com, you are creating a link between CuteBlonde on Match.com, and Jane Doe on Facebook or LinkedIn.
And whether Match openly displays that link or not (although given the “let the Match community know that you are who you say you are” language, it seems pretty clear to us that the intent is to confirm that link – so that the ‘Match community’ knows that you are Jane Doe), all it takes is one data breach for that link to be exposed even if it is otherwise not.
People Can Find Out Who You are Just Using Your Social Media Profile Picture
Once your social media account is linked, even if Match just shows your social media profile picture (rather than your name), it becomes trivial to find your personal social media account that is using that profile picture (so your Facebook, Twitter, G+ or LinkedIn profile picture).
In our article on how to bust a dating site scammer, we explain in step-by-step detail Google’s reverse image search, and make no mistake: that can be used to find you.
Which Leads Us to the Stalkers
Hey, I’ve been on dating sites (how do you think we get the material for our articles on dating sites?) There are some really creepy people out there, who won’t leave you alone. This is true for men as well as women (oh, the stories we hear). At least when they aren’t leaving you alone on a dating site, they don’t know who you really are.
Can you imagine if they knew who you were?
As we say, a stalker’s paradise.
Now, sure, decent dating sites allow you to block people who are bothering you. On the dating site.
But once they know your real identity, they don’t need to bother you on the dating site. They can find you on Facebook. They can find you at home.
Bottom line? There is no way in hell that I would publicly reveal my real identity on a dating site.
And we suggest that you don’t either.
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According to Match, they do not post or link to your accounts. They only confirm them.
Dating sites are part of my business interests.
I hope some people will take careful note of what you are saying.
my bottom line would be.. if you do that verification you must be stupid, crazy or both.. or possibly even suicidal. Please be aware that there is no limit to the depths of evil in the hearts of those who are hunting victims in the world of dating sites.
With your permission, I can put these types of warnings on some of my dating publications. You will get a global audience of targetted guys.
I always say .. Gentlemen.. Please, please use your common sense, the ladies on all of these sites are real, there is is nothing more voracious on the planet.
Very best wishes to you Anne,
Daniel
I am single, 67 years old, I am English, I live alone with many pets, I live on a beautiful tropical island in the south china sea, peaceful, duty free and stress free.