Millions of UK adults use online dating services like Tinder, Grindr, and Hinge, but what happens when those spaces are exploited? While they can be a source of fun and fantasy for some, according to Crimestoppers, dating apps can also be a gateway for fraudsters, stalkers, and sexual abusers.
In a 2022 survey by the BBC, 33 per cent of dating app users who responded had experienced either harassment or abuse by someone they met via a dating app. The same investigation found more than 6,000 people reported offences linked to dating apps between 2017 and 2021.
Over the years at MyLondon we have reported on cases where dating apps played a part in rape, burglary, and even murder. Though these cases do not represent the experiences most of us have, some are worth highlighting as a reminder of the precautions we can take as individuals, and the responsibility dating app companies have to their users.
