Online dating has changed the way people meet; it can be safer than traditional introduction agencies because you have better control on how you contact and meet other people whether hetrosexual, gay dating or lesbian dates.

Single parents don't need to worry about when to tell their new date that kids come with the deal too. Will they want that 'extra baggage'? Join Dates for Single Parents - it is FREE to join and you can see photos as well as send private and anonymous messages to any prospective date. Dates for single parents, as the name implies is strictly for single mums and single dads. It is part of the Worlds largest online dating network and it is free to join!

It would be nice to think that everyone who joins an online dating website is single, free decent and honest. A great many are but we should always keep our guard up. So how do we stay safe while we browse introduction websites and what are the best tips for online dating ?.

Look for a free to join dating websites such as webwidedates.com or dates4gays.com. Ensure your choice has a 'double-blind' communication system.

This simply means that you have a private message post box on the dating website and you login using your username and password. So your first correspondence is totally anonymous, you never provide your email address or phone number. You can keep in touch, get to know each other dump the ones that you don't like, even befre you arrange a date. Bear in mind that good free to join dating websites also show photos and a short biography.

Look at the photo and compare it with their declared age. Do they look much younger than their age … lucky people, or is the photo ten years old. They could also tell white lies about their age. When choosing a username or nickname, think of what impression you give in that name. Slimsexyblonde or mistermusclebound provides a pretty conclusive idea of who's behind the name. What happens when you meet and don't fit the name? You are safe with 'fungirl' or 'balletlover'. Avoid giving away occupations and residential areas in your username.

Be mindful that online dating is a numbers game and you are bound to meet a number of unsuitable dates, a few that may remain 'just good friends' and sooner or later, the right person. Don't take rejection too personally if they let you down, your new date may have set their sights too high, or that ten year old photo on the website gave the game away! That's why it is better to be true.

Have you decided what sort of relationship you are seeking? Long distance online chats, local passionate dates - or something in between. Imagine flying to New York from London to find that your date totally lied. On the other hand a drive into town isn't such a bad thing. It is always better to take is slowly, use your private mailbox and then perhaps you ask first for a phone number. At least you can make the call, great if you can withhold the number too. You don't need to give out your email address at this stage, or if you feel the need, think about opening a Hotmail or Yahoo email address rather than your own.

It is easy to get over excited when you feel that you have found just the right person. A spur of the moment action might be great fun because you feel younger and you really want to impress your date. Keep your feet firmly on the ground no matter what your heart tells you.

Are you really ready for your first date? You've chatted online, you've chatted on the phone, things feel right and you are about to arrange a date. Don't meet anywhere private, especially someone's home or car in a car park. If you seen pictures, you know what they look like so you can meet in public and you should for safety sake. Restaurants are great because you can have a relaxing one-to-one and really get to know each other. Cinemas are not a good idea because you'll only share a film. It's a good idea to tell a friend where you are meeting and even better if they can be in the same venue at a distance from you.

If you have travelled a fair distance and opted to stay in a hotel. Avoid meeting your date in the hotel restaurant, it might be convenient and at least you don't need to go outside. The trouble is you could leave yourself in a compromising position. (pun intended)

Sooner or later, sex is going to come up. Needless to say, use condoms but before all this, talk about both your backgrounds, be open, honest, candid and frank. Don't be afraid to ask any questions. Ask if they have had gay sex, unprotected sex and if they were prepared to have a blood test for sexually transmitted diseases. It's a good reaction tester!

Have fun in your quest, don't rush into things and stay safe. Good luck.