New York Among Most Dangerous States For Online Dating: Study

NEW YORK CITY — New York is among the more dangerous states to date online, according to a new analysis.

New York City ranks ninth in a listing of the most dangerous states for online dating from HighSpeedInternet.com, a private firm that compares internet service providers for consumers.

The survey examined internet crime statistics and sexually transmitted disease rates to determine which states it would be riskiest to log into Tindr, OkCupid, Grindr or Hinge.

New York has the nation's fourth highest number of internet crime victims with 18,124 reported in the state in 2018, according to the FBI's latest findings.

Sexually transmitted disease numbers are also high in New York.

The state ranks 10th out of the 50 states for high number of chlamydia and syphilis cases (119,571 and 2,654, respectively) as well as 18th for gonorrhea, with 37,262 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control in 2018.

Some experts blame the spike in sexually transmitted diseases on online dating sites, which enable easy hookups that spread infections faster.

Maine proved to be an online dater's safest bet, while Alaska proved the most harrowing.

To find out how other states fared, read the full report here.

And for those considered about an upcoming date, here are a few tips on staying safe when dating online from Bustle:

1. Google yourself: Find out what information is out there about you.
2. Never give out your full name until after the first date.
3. Get a Google Voice number. Don’t give out your real phone number.
4. Don’t reveal where you work.
5. Meet in a public place.
6. Drive yourself to a date or take public transportation.
7. Stay sober.
8. Don’t use Facebook or Instagram photos on your dating profile.
9. Tell a friend specific details about your date.
10. Consider carrying pepper spray.
11. Don’t let anyone walk you home on your first date.