4 tips for using hookup apps openly – advice for Feeld, Tinder, AdultFriendFinder, and Grindr

Everyone gets a thirst for connection once in a while, and there’s no need to worry about justifying that thirst to us – or anyone else for that matter. The heart (and body) wants what it wants.

What you should be concerned about is your online privacy – especially if you’re using dating sites and apps that are geared towards sex and NSFW content.

If you want to protect your privacy or at least keep a low profile while swiping on attractive singles in your area, there are a few different things you can do. Here are some general guidelines that apply to all apps and sites, as well as some tips that are more specific depending on the service you’re using.

General tips for browsing dating apps smartly

The following tips work well for all link sites. Think of them as general guidelines for limiting your exposure:

• Sign up using another email address. This is not limited to the case of a data breach (and trust us when we say they’re more common than you’d think), it also means that if someone looks at your inbox they won’t be able to see which sites you visit regularly.

• Make your photos as anonymous as possible. You don’t have to blur your face, but you also shouldn’t take pictures of yourself that reveal where you live, work, or hang out. Additionally, be sure to leave out any identifying marks, such as distinctive tattoos, from any of your profile pictures.

• Do not link your social media to your profile. Too many people share their Instagram pages or TikTok handles on their profiles, but doing so greatly increases your exposure, because all the photos and stories you post there can contain identifying information about you, such as who your friends are or where you are from.

• Take advantage of gift cards or prepaid credit cards. When you buy a premium membership on an affiliate app or site, you’ll leave a paper trail that links to your bank account or credit card. To maintain your anonymity, you can use a prepaid card or purchase a gift card instead of using your credit or debit card when registering your membership.

App-specific tips for staying anonymous

Feel

In a privacy-conscious day, Feeld’s Incognito mode is a game-changer: You can check out Discover’s feed without leaving a digital trail, staying invisible to anyone you clearly “don’t like”. The app also supports private photo vaults that only open with an authenticated connection.

Tinder

Tinder offers several unique features that can help you get your profile down, even if you’re swiping. First, consider turns off discovery mode if you are trying to keep a low profile. This will make it impossible for new people to find your profile in search. In the meantime, you can still chat with people you’ve already been matched with.

If you really want to take things up a notch and already have a Tinder Plus, Gold or Platinum membership, you can use it Passport Mode to browse singles in a nearby city, or destination for work or vacation. This is a great way to prevent your local friends and family from accidentally accessing your profile.

You can also block phone numbers if you don’t want certain people to find you — for example, your boss, neighbor, or sibling.

Grindr

The first line of defense in Grindr is a new feature called Profile Hide which works for one user at a time. Say, for example, you meet a coworker on an app, and you don’t want them to know you’re using it. Just click on their profile and find the Hide icon. If you tap this, your profile will be invisible to them and their profile will be invisible to you, like magic.

If you want to take things up a notch, you’ll need a Grindr Unlimited membership, which unlocks a really useful privacy feature called Inignito modewhich really allows you to use the service in complete privacy, without anyone knowing you are there until you start interacting.

AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder is like the Wild West of hookups, a place where anything seems to go, but that casual attitude can be a privacy nightmare. We strongly recommend that you limit the amount of personally identifiable information you include in your profile. That includes being very selective about which photos you choose to share.

Another good way to strike a balance between complete anonymity and a modicum of privacy is to use a lot of AFF. image featuresespecially their photo permissions options. You can make your main profile picture something completely different, like a full-length photo of you wearing a hat or a photo taken from a distance or a photo with a blurred face, but you can create a more visible photo album, your personal photos that you choose to share only with friends.

That way, you can be more selective about who you share your photos with.