Full disclosure: this post is sponsored by MyAKA. 
I’ve written about online dating before over here. Online dating is great for when you’re lazy and want to shop for a date the same way you shop for vintage leopard print coats on Ebay, which is what I used to do when I had money, which would explain why I don’t have money anymore.
The biggest issue with online dating is that you’re going to have to accept that you are forfeiting your right to not be googled. The next thing you’re going to have to deal with is that at some point, you’re going to have to give a stranger your phone number, for practical reasons like, “I’ll text you when I get there” and etc. Sure, you could continue to make your dating plans via the website, but that’s not the best way to reach someone, and standing someone up without at least a text is a dick thing to do. Standing up someone at all is a dick thing to do. Don’t do that.
Anyway, this is why I like the MyAKA service. Because it makes me feel like Batman. A sexy, sexy Batman. It allows me to use another phone number, in my area code, in addition to the number I already have. It offers protection on incoming and outgoing calls UNLIKE a forwarding service (making it different from a certain other “fake number” service). The second cellphone number you get isn’t linked to you at all. You DON’T need to download an app or need the internet — it’s all controlled via text (another difference). There’s a 7 Day Free Trial with no payment information required. And for once, Canadians can be included with full voice and texting capabilities, alongside their American bros. I know most of Canada gets ripped off when it comes to stuff like this; my heart ached for you when you couldn’t use Turntable, which I was obsessed with at the time, like to an unhealthy point where I thought I actually was a legit DJ. BUT THAT’S NOT IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. Anyway, you can easily block and unblock numbers and there’s a “Do Not Disturb” feature that automatically calls to voicemail and stores text messages when enabled. Which is especially great, because my generation hates talking to people. We fear the telephone. Which is why we text. Which is why having a virtual cellphone sounds like awesome “Tron” magic.
But is it a jerk move to offer someone a seemingly “fake” number? I don’t think so. 1. The call/text actually goes to you, so it’s not like giving them a “wrong number.” 2. I think women especially need to do this to protect themselves. Honestly, it’s sad, but women to have look out for themselves more than men do, and this is coming from someone who considers themselves a feminist. We’re still in an era where the first defense against rape is telling women how to protected themselves, rather than telling men, “Hey, don’t rape women.”
However, I think both men AND women need to date safely. But what do you think?
Try it. A 7 Day FREE Trial?! What’s the catch? None. With this special offer for my readers you can enjoy seven worry-free days of flirting with MyAKA, without even entering your credit card! And when you decide to keep the service, you can upgrade your number in two easy steps at the MyAKA site. It’s as simple as that to date safely this fall. Signup today for a fun second mobile number with no-strings-attached.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I keep two extra google voice numbers for things like this. One goes to casual work contacts, the other goes to dates. Granted, girls seem to be on average far less weird about online dating than guys (And I’ve only recently been made aware just how weird most dudes on OKCupid are, thanks to a friend letting me check out her inbox), but I’ve had a few situations where I found that a near-stranger suddenly had far more access to my day to day life than I’m comfortable with.
I had a lot of success on OKC but, ultimately, left the site after meeting 12 girls in two months who all portrayed themselves as someone they really weren’t, and/or, had some serious hang-ups, including, but not limited to: not being over a relationship that ended three years ago, an abusive ex they moved away from but still loved, a dad that abandoned them and caused them to resent children, a raging sex addiction that interfered with having a normal relationship, or a general negative and hopeless outlook on life.
My usual practice was to google them, or Facebook search their number once I got it to see if there were any obvious red flags before I went out with them and parted with my money on a date. Dating is expensive both money and time-wise, and, I tried my best not to waste either. There was only one person with obvious issues: her FB was wide open, and she linked to her blog – it was obvious she was way too obsessed with dating and finding a boyfriend, and that was a major turnoff for a number of reasons. The rest? You’re not going to really find anything that tells you “I haven’t moved on from or dealt with x/y/z.”
As a girl, I’m not sure what it’s like. I know guys are more aggressive and potentially dangerous, so, a safety issue exists that doesn’t, necessarily, for men. Why do/would you google search a guy, Almie? What kind of things are you looking for?
yeah I always hated giving my number out to people I had never actually met in person, but, it’s kind of a necessary evil, what with needing to text and make plans and “oh hey I’m running late” and whatever. This service seems kind of cool. I don’t really get how it works because I’m dumb but it sounds like you can block people from contacting you which… would be nice. Hell, there are people I still have in my phone simply so if they ever contact me again, I know to ignore them.