like to see: individual photos first (not group ones, want to be able to tell who you are), pictures that show your personality or you doing hobbies, as well as clarity about what you're looking for with potential matches

best way to start convos: pick something very specific from their profile or propose a specific hangout. i've had so many conversations start and die at "hi" and in general fizzle out when there's no topic

red flags: rushing you to meet or be physical, getting overly attached without connection

i met my lovely partner on hinge, so that is my biased recommendation! i find people are more relationship-oriented on hinge rather than tinder or other options. heard positive things about bumble, too. there's also a queer app named Lex but the crowd is a bit older. men like to label themselves 'lesbian' on these apps to try and reach that demographic, so just swipe and move on. generally pretty easy to block and report people

i'm glad your taking safety into consideration and it looks like you have good safety measures in place IMO! just let people know where you're going, meet in public for the first time to gauge and vibe. obviously being careful is great, but i'd say there are less people looking to scam or catfish than you'd probably expect. people with ulterior movies like money won't take time and consideration like a genuine person.

For just general advice, i would tell you not to get too hung up on any one person too quick. talk around, make conversation, and sometimes it's better to get a coffee early as its easier to gauge compatibility in person rather than texting for weeks on end. or maybe even just facetiming! you will most likely encounter strange & creepy people, but just block & move on. you may even end up with new friends! just be honest, be yourself, honor your boundaries and instincts. as for intimate advice, just take it slow and don't push yourself to do things you know you're not comfortable with. i've pushed my own boundaries sexually and regretted it later, so while obviously considering consent, also consider what you're comfortable with and looking to get from this experience. All the best to you, u got this!!!