Men who use explicit language on dating apps ‘more likely to be sex predators’
70 per cent of women questioned have overlooked their concerns and gone on a date with a questionable match
MESSAGES sent on dating apps can reliably identify thugs and sexual predators, a study found.
Men who used explicit language were three-times more likely to abuse or assault their date.
This ranged from verbal and physical abuse to groping and rape.
More than 750 Brits were quizzed on their use of dating apps, such as Tinder, Bumble and Match.
All but one had received a message that made them feel uneasy about meeting someone.
But 70 per cent have overlooked their concerns and gone on a date with a questionable match anyway.
Almost half of women (46 per cent) said they have been the victim of crime on a date.
Many Google their matches or insist on speaking on the phone before meeting in a bid to filter out unsavoury characters.
But this tactic is largely ineffective, the University of Nottingham study reveals.
Exchanging a lot of messages and greater online dating experience are also poor defences.
Messages in which blokes moaned about their lack of success with women were most alarming.
These self-deprecating guys were 40-times more likely to be violent, abusive or lecherous.
Those who used arrogant, pushy and hostile words also posed a higher risk.
MOST READ IN HEALTH
Women were more likely to fall prey if they went on a date because they had “nothing better to do”, rather than out of genuine interest.
Study leader Megan Davis said: “Crimes related to online dating have increased as online dating gets more popular.
“All online dating includes message contact, and therefore message content.
“People should be cautious of messages containing sexual content, which pressure them to meet or give personal information, and/or are arrogant or self-deprecating.
“They should also avoid meeting people on a whim because they have ‘nothing better to do’.
“These variables create a significant model for predicting adverse face-to-face dates.
“People should not rely on ‘uncertainty reduction strategies’, such as Googling, sending/receiving more messages, or phone contact, because this does not appear to help.”
Women were more likely than men to be sexually abused or assaulted after meeting online.
And fellas were more likely to have been the target of a financial scam.
Some 71 per cent of women had received “romantic” messages prior to their last date, 11 per cent received “sexual” messages, and 3 per cent “hostile”.
This increased to 87 per cent, 29 per cent, and 10 per cent, respectively, in instances where they were physically or sexually abused or assaulted.