MASON CITY, Iowa - According to E-harmony, 40 percent of Americans use online dating services, but how do you stay safe when meeting up a stranger?
Just recently, a woman in Nebraska was found dead after going on a date with someone she met on the app Tinder. Bars like Lorado's in Mason City have had training with Crisis Intervention Services to learn how to help if a situation is getting uncomfortable or even dangerous, but there are also apps that can help as well.
uSAfeUS is an app being targeted toward college-age users.
Features on the app include making a call or text sounding urgent, giving you an excuse to leave. It can also send an alert letting a friend know you've arrived to your destination. You may be wondering why you need an app, and why not just speak up? Studies show many want to be as discreet as possible, not wanting to make a scene.
“The people that would commit acts like this are probably very skilled at it. You might not get those warning signs right away, it probably would be someone you know well, probably might not be a first date, so it’s probably someone you feel comfortable with,” Nicole Hamilton-Brahm, with Crisis Intervention Services, said.