For the last decade, the LGBT community has been fighting to be heard, but even with the legalization of same-sex marriages in some countries, dating as an LGBT member is still challenging. Aside from the stigma associated with ‘coming out of the closet,’ the community often faces discrimination, harassment, and rejection by loved ones. Like the rest of the world, online safety is another issue they worry about.
According to Statista, hackers accessed approximately 15 million data records in the last quarter of 2022, which was a 37% increase compared to the previous quarter. Consequently, the LGBTQ community often receives backlash from oppressive governments, hateful individuals, and even their families. Hence, such data breaches leave members of this marginalized community more vulnerable.
Why are Privacy and Online Safety so Important for Bisexuals
There is still a lot of stigma around bisexuals. While some are not shy about their sexual orientation, most are still afraid of society.
For those that are not vocal about their sexual identity and are cautious about who they come out to, privacy is vital. If a data breach exposes them as part of the LGBT community, they may be susceptible to public ridicule. They are also at risk of harassment, job loss, or have an estranged relationship with their family.
For these reasons, upholding the privacy and online safety of bisexuals is vital. Online dating sites must put all the necessary security protocols to ascertain that people dating a bisexual woman or man maintain control over their personal information.
Main Technologies on Dating Sites
According to researches, the number of LBGT using dating apps almost doubles that of straight individuals. These statistics confirm that lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender have more difficulties finding sexual partners offline. Keeping these struggles in mind, this community requires dating apps to assure them of their online security.
Below we highlight technologies that dating sites should put in place to make their users feel safe while searching for potential lifelong partners
One of the top concerns for dating app users is the security of the photos they upload. Now that the internet has made everything effortless. Reports of malicious people accessing pictures of users and using them to, for example, run catfishing scams are not new.
To minimize such fraudulent activities that put LGBTQ members at risk, dating websites must caution against the unauthorized use of photos. They should ensure that only personal connections can view pictures and leverage advanced data encryption technologies to improve user safety.
2-factor authentication
One of the best ways to reinforce the security of dating platform users is to activate 2-factor authentication. As its name suggests, the 2-factor authentication technology counter-checks a user’s identity to ensure it’s legit. It aims to deter efforts by cybercriminals to access a user account by sending a second login passcode via text, smartphone, email, or voice.
So, even if a hacker has the correct password, hacking will be futile without a successful second verification.
Bot detection
Hackers use bots to create fake profiles on dating websites to defraud other users or spread malware. To ensure the LGBT community connects with legit users, dating apps have taken a proactive approach to detect, eliminate, and prevent fake accounts.
Subsequently, most proactive dating websites should streamline the account creation process, using the users’ phone numbers to validate the data they key in.
Additionally, they should leverage automated bot detection tools to detect abnormal user activity and prevent the creation of fake profiles.
Continuous Authentication
Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to bypass the system and take over existing accounts. To minimize such dangerous activities, dating websites employ continuous authentication technologies that monitor user behavior and identify any changes.
These tools will, for instance, monitor typing patterns. If they notice any typing behavior abnormalities, they will lock the account and ask for verification through a secondary method. It is only after successful authentication that a user will access the account.
Third-Party Vendor Review
It’s not uncommon for dating websites to work with third-party vendors considering such partnerships present excellent business opportunities. However, it’s imperative that dating platforms conduct thorough reviews to assess if the vendors comply with industry standards, have set up robust security protocols, and uphold user privacy.
Such rigorous reviews guarantee that dating websites find a partner that’s the brand’s perfect fit and one that does not compromise the safety of its users.
Conclusion
The internet has connected the world. However, chatting with strangers online can be risky, especially for the LBGT community members susceptible to hate crimes and various injustices. Nevertheless, as much as it is everyone’s responsibility to protect themselves online, dating sites are bound to make their users feel safe. By implementing the above technologies/tips, people who identify as LGBT will have a safe space where genuine love can bloom.