Women’s safety when dating
Over the past few years, women have been building collaborative ways to look out for each other, from coded phrases at bars to community vetting groups.
What’s changing?
Women’s safety initiatives around dating aren’t new, but they've grown more visible and creative thanks to social media, apps and public awareness. There’s now increased focus on community support to make the dating landscape safer for women.
Ask for Angela
A UK-based initiative launched in 2016, “Ask for Angela” allows anyone who feels unsafe on a date to discreetly ask bar staff for “Angela”. Staff trained on the program will then assist – whether by escorting them to a taxi, separating them from the person, or ensuring they leave safely.
Digital safety nets
Tea is a woman-centred dating safety app, originally launched in the US in 2023. It lets users anonymously report red flags, share advice, perform background checks and verify identities of potential dates. Its popularity surged amid viral content calling for safer dating practices.
Community vetting
Groups like Are We Dating the Same Guy? (AWDTSG) are private Facebook communities where women share screenshots of men’s dating profiles and exchange warnings or experiences. These have grown into global networks with over 200 groups and thousands of members.
What’s the other side?
While these safety measures can empower women, they’re not free of drawbacks. Though “Ask for Angela” has been adopted by thousands of venues across the UK and beyond, independent investigations have found that staff in many locations fail to recognise or act on the code word, calling for further training and implementation. Apps like Tea promote safety through transparency – but in July 2025, a data breach exposed over 72k images, including selfies and government ID scans, along with private messages and posts. Similarly, while Facebook vetting groups offer solidarity, they can propel misinformation without evidence or due process.
Despite this, there is growing momentum for women supporting each other through community action to ensure dating experiences – or just a night out – are safe and enjoyable.