The world of Internet Dating has changed. Catfishing is here to stay. Whether you are a pro football player or someone in the midwest, catfishing can happen to just about anyone. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself from becoming the next victim of a social media catfishing scandal.
What Social Media lessons can we all learn from this hoax?
1. Always do background checks on your dates. Background checks are cost-effective and can save you time and much heartache in the long run!
2. If you are going to engage in Internet dating, utilize social video platforms including FaceTime & Skype to ensure you are actually speaking with a “real” person who is who they say they are.
3. If someone claims to have a medical illness or is on the verge of “death” find out what hospital they are staying at and call the hospital. This is often the first way that many catfishing scandals are found out when the boyfriend calls the hospital and finds out there is no record of their alleged Internet “girlfriend” staying there.
4. If you meet someone on an Internet dating site, connect with them on multiple social media platforms, not just one. It will be much harder for them to keep up a lie on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn then keeping up a lie on just one network. 0 connections on LinkedIn or a lack of professional resume on LinkedIn is often a dead giveaway you might be involved in a catfish scandal.
KRIS RUBY is the CEO of Ruby Media Group, an award-winning public relations and media relations agency in Westchester County, New York. Kris Ruby has more than 15 years of experience in the Media industry. She is a sought-after media relations strategist, content creator and public relations consultant. Kris Ruby is also a national television commentator and political pundit and she has appeared on national TV programs over 200 times covering big tech bias, politics and social media. She is a trusted media source and frequent on-air commentator on social media, tech trends and crisis communications and frequently speaks on FOX News and other TV networks. She has been featured as a published author in OBSERVER, ADWEEK, and countless other industry publications. Her research on brand activism and cancel culture is widely distributed and referenced. She graduated from Boston University’s College of Communication with a major in public relations and is a founding member of The Young Entrepreneurs Council. She is also the host of The Kris Ruby Podcast Show, a show focusing on the politics of big tech and the social media industry. Kris is focused on PR for SEO and leveraging content marketing strategies to help clients get the most out of their media coverage.