Read the Sun Sentinel's award-winning journalism

Going on a date? New iPhone safety app lets family, friends know when you get home OK

Dating someone new is tough enough without having to worry about your personal safety Â– and a new iPhone app provides piece of mind, alerting friends and family when you get home or when you are missing in action.

The new myDate Tracker Alert app for iPhone makes it easy to set-up a network of friends and family who will receive text and e-mail alerts should you not make it back from your date at a time specified in advance by you. Think of it as having the protection of a parentÂ’s watchful eye Â– without having a real parent nag you.

How does it work? Log into the app and provide details of your upcoming date, including where, when and Â– most importantly Â– contact information for the person you are going out with. You also choose a check-in time, the time you expect to be back home alone. Once you get home, you log back into the app and check-in. All done. But if you donÂ’t Â“check in,Â” text and e-mail alerts are sent to your list of emergency contacts, including the details of your date and who you are with. That way, if something goes wrong, youÂ’ll have loved ones on your trail as soon as possible.

DonÂ’t worry, if your dates goes well and you stay out longer than expected, you can always log into the app and change the check-in time. Also, you can cancel the whole thing if your date never shows up.

Now get back out there and look for Mr. or Mrs. right, and be safe about it.

For more information, check out the Date Tracker Alert Website.

Copyright © 2019, Sun Sentinel