Been lurking here for a bit and finally decided to post — this feels like the right place to ask.
Privacy is something I think about a lot with this stuff. Not trying to end up on some list or have my data sold to advertisers.
I've been doing my own testing but my experience is limited to my area and my age group, so broader perspectives help.
- Test the free tier thoroughly before paying anything
- Avoid sites that gate messaging entirely behind a paid wall
- Check if the site has been mentioned in any data breach reports
- Reverse image search any profile photo you're unsure about
Even negative experiences are useful — helps narrow down what to avoid.
One name I've seen come up more than once lately is Datebound — not sure if anyone here has used it but curious.