Reddit hookups can be incredibly fun, but they can also be scary, anxiety-inducing, and nerve-wracking.

One of the most important things to do prior to a meet, is to put some safety measures in place. The ones that I do before meeting somebody are;

1) Swap phone numbers and message on WhatsApp. Reddit has an element of anonymity. WhatsApp, less so. And when I give you my number, you’re welcome (and encouraged) to give it to a trusted friend before we meet, so they know exactly who you’re with.

2) When we’re getting serious about meeting, we’ll video verify. This can be done through WhatsApp, but we’ll do a live video call so you know exactly who you’ll be meeting. It’ll also help with any nerves as it’ll build an element of familiarity, and we can test the vibe. And yes, it will be super awkward, but that’s ok.

3) On the day, we’ll arrange to meet somewhere public. Even if we’re planning to go straight to the bedroom, we’ll meet somewhere public first, just to check that the person who arrives is who you expected (me 🙋‍♂️).

But whether you meet me or somebody else, please implement these (or similar) safety measures. And if guys aren’t prepared to do them, or are even just apprehensive, big red flag 🚩. Safety always comes first!

That’s my internet safety lesson out of the way, thanks for coming to my TEDtalk 😉