Dating apps are now part of everyday life for millions of singles. While they make it easier to meet people, they also rely on collecting certain data, and that can raise legitimate questions: what information is actually necessary? How do you avoid the risks tied to location sharing? How do you stay in control of what you display and share?
In this guide, we explain how to set up your phone and computer, choose the right settings, and limit your data exposure — all without the jargon… promise!
What dating apps can know about you, and why
Before getting into the details, one number that shows why these settings really matter: 81% of Americans say they are concerned about how companies use the data collected about them, and 73% feel they have little or no control over it (source). Hence the importance of knowing what your app collects and how to stay in control.
This is the data you choose to add:
- Photos
- Profile information
- Preferences (age, distance…)
- Bio
- Messages sent to other profiles
Without you typing anything, your device transmits certain technical information, such as:
- Your location
- Advertising identifiers
- The device model you're using
- Your activity on the app (when you open it, from where, etc.)
The best protection starts before you even download the app.
- Turn on automatic screen lock (passcode, Face ID, fingerprint)
- Install security updates
- Back up your data regularly
Two very effective tips:
- A unique, strong password for the app (ideally through a password manager)
- A dedicated email address if you want to keep your information from being cross-referenced with your other accounts
A few reflexes:
- Use an untraceable username (avoid nicknames linked to your social media)
- Fill in only the necessary information
- Don't include overly specific details: an easily identifiable employer, an indirect address, daily routines (your gym, your schedule…). The fewer connections someone can make, the safer you are.
Avoid elements that could identify a place or a routine:
- License plates
- Work badges
- Your kids' school
- Easily recognizable building fronts
- Documents visible in the background
Apps sometimes offer public, restricted, or private modes. Before your first match: check what's displayed by default.
Recommended settings, especially for women, to protect your privacy
Because women are more exposed to digital abuse, some settings are particularly useful — even though they actually benefit everyone.
These settings matter all the more because women remain disproportionately targeted online: they are three times more likely than men to be sexually harassed online (16% vs. 5%), and 33% of women under 35 say they have experienced it (source).
Limiting the personal information visible on your profile reduces the risk of cross-referencing or identity theft.
Before getting into the details, one number that shows why these settings really matter: 81% of Americans say they are concerned about how companies use the data collected about them, and 73% feel they have little or no control over it (source). Hence the importance of knowing what your app collects and how to stay in control.
This is the data you choose to add:
- Photos
- Profile information
- Preferences (age, distance…)
- Bio
- Messages sent to other profiles
Without you typing anything, your device transmits certain technical information, such as:
- Your location
- Advertising identifiers
- The device model you're using
- Your activity on the app (when you open it, from where, etc.)
The best protection starts before you even download the app.
- Turn on automatic screen lock (passcode, Face ID, fingerprint)
- Install security updates
- Back up your data regularly
Two very effective tips:
- A unique, strong password for the app (ideally through a password manager)
- A dedicated email address if you want to keep your information from being cross-referenced with your other accounts
A few reflexes:
- Use an untraceable username (avoid nicknames linked to your social media)
- Fill in only the necessary information
- Don't include overly specific details: an easily identifiable employer, an indirect address, daily routines (your gym, your schedule…). The fewer connections someone can make, the safer you are.
Avoid elements that could identify a place or a routine:
- License plates
- Work badges
- Your kids' school
- Easily recognizable building fronts
- Documents visible in the background
Apps sometimes offer public, restricted, or private modes. Before your first match: check what's displayed by default.
Location: how to stay visible without being trackable
Location is essential for suggesting profiles of singles near you. But it can also be a problem if it’s too precise.
The safest everyday setting is: "Allow only while using the app." This prevents continuous background collection.
On some phones, you can choose to share an approximate position (city / neighborhood) rather than an exact one. That's more than enough to meet people near you without giving away your address.
Showing "500 feet away" can allow someone to estimate your exact position through trilateration. A vague or rounded number protects your privacy better.
Some apps can keep accessing your location or identifiers if the permission stays active. Close the app or revoke the permission when you're done.
Managing permissions: a key point for your safety
Your phone lets you control what each app can do.
The permissions to review regularly
Go through:
- Location
- Microphone
- Camera
- Contacts
Keep only the permissions that are actually necessary.
Hide notifications on your lock screen
To keep a private message from popping up on the subway or at work:
Setting: “Hide notification content on lock screen.”
Personalized ads, trackers and third-party sharing: what to check
Regulators are watching these practices closely.
In 2026, the FTC banned a data broker from selling or sharing sensitive location data without consumers’ affirmative express consent, after it sold location data linked to hundreds of millions of mobile devices. (order of May 4, 2026)
Here’s how to stay in control:
Don't worry — no need to read everything. Focus on these key questions:
- What data is collected?
- For what purposes?
- Who is it shared with?
- How long is it kept?
- How can you exercise your privacy rights (access, deletion, opting out of the sale or sharing of your data — rights guaranteed by state laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act)?
In the settings, check whether you can:
- opt out of targeted advertising
- refuse location sharing
- turn off certain trackers
One simple rule: anything you send can be copied, screenshotted, saved, or shared outside the app.
Never send:
- intimate photos
- ID documents
- bank account or payment details
- travel tickets/bills
- work documents
Even without any hacking, someone can record a conversation or screenshot a photo. Ask yourself: "If this image circulated somewhere else, could it be compromising?"
At Match, safety and privacy are built into your experience from the start:
- Location data used first and foremost to suggest relevant profiles, in line with the purposes you choose
- Settings that are easy to change and fully transparent
- Robust reporting and blocking systems
- Human moderation and anti-harassment prevention tools
- Strict data protection standards and a privacy-by-design approach
The goal? A dating experience that’s enjoyable, respectful, and fully in your control.
Express checklist: protect your account in 2 minutes
- A well-chosen username + minimal info
- A unique, strong password
- Location on only while I’m using the app
- Approximate location (if available)
- Precise distance display turned off
- Microphone/contacts permissions off if unnecessary
- Notifications hidden on lock screen
- Targeted advertising opted out (when the option exists)
- App closed when not in use
- If something feels off: I block + report immediately
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