Safety
Protect Your Privacy on Dating Apps
By Sarah Chen Thursday 15th January 2026 5 min read
What Data Do Apps Collect?
Dating apps collect location data, device info, usage patterns, photos, messages, and purchase history. Some sell anonymised data to third parties.
Privacy Settings to Change Now
Disable precise location (use approximate), limit photo access, review connected social accounts, and disable personalised ads where possible.
Protecting Your Identity
Use a Google Voice number or burner phone for initial contacts. Don't include your workplace or exact neighbourhood in your profile. Reverse-search your own photos to check exposure.
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Sarah Chen
Sarah is WhichDating's lead app reviewer with 5 years of experience testing dating platforms.