Choosing a Messenger for a New Match
Different messaging apps expose different amounts of identity — phone number, read receipts, last-seen — before you know who you're talking to. Pick a messenger deliberately based on what it does and doesn't reveal, rather than defaulting to whatever they suggest.
Where It Applies
Platform-SpecificMost relevant on the specific platforms listed below, where the pattern this addresses actually shows up.
What It Counters
Targeted Counter-MoveDirectly counters one or more specific manipulation tactics, listed below.
The Steps
- 01
Check whether the app ties your account to a phone number visible to the other person.
- 02
Turn off read receipts and last-seen status where the app allows it.
- 03
Prefer an app you chose over one the other person pushed for early.
Recommended Tools
Where "Choosing a Messenger for a New Match" involves how you communicate, a low-metadata messenger reduces what a contact can learn about you regardless of how the conversation goes.
ENCRYPTED MESSENGERS