Hidden Hearts in Grocery Stores… To Stop Predators

 DEFEND

April 2, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA RELEASE 

DEFEND hosts Hidden Hearts Dating Quest 

TORONTO – DEFEND, a nonprofit organization committed to reducing risks for children and vulnerable individuals online, is hosting an event: The Hidden Hearts Dating Quest, a live-streamed version of Blind Match, which aspires to promote safer online connections. Hidden Hearts Dating Quest is a free virtual event for single individuals across Canada, which will be live-streamed on DEFEND’s YouTube channel- @DEFENDnonprofit on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at EST 2 p.m.

Blind Match is one of the few features within their new dating application- Dating Square, as each possesses enhanced traditional dating games to maximize user safety. During the Hidden Hearts Dating Quest event, participants partake in live-streamed gameplay where one individual poses questions to three potential matches. Just like on Dating Square, participants remain anonymous to each other, thereby promoting genuine connections based on personality and compatibility.

The event aims to address the risks associated with online dating, including romance scams and exploitation. According to reports, hundreds of millions of dollars are lost annually to romance scams originating from dating apps. Additionally, concerns persist regarding child safety on adult dating platforms, with 34,070 child sex abuse reports were found on dating apps in 2022 according to National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. 

Alongside DEFEND’s commitment to facilitating online safety, all individuals are encouraged to attend with the only requirement of being at least 18 years old, confirmed by pre-identity verification with a government-issued ID before the event begins. Some of DEFEND’s 250 volunteers in 5 Canadian cities (Vancouver, Calgary, Windsor, Toronto and Montreal) have been hiding small business card invitations in produce departments in grocery stores, inside new books at book stores and other various locations in those cities. 

During the event, successful matches during gameplay will supply prizes such as arcade passes, dinner vouchers, rock climbing sessions, bowling, hair styling and more. Some of the event sponsors include: The Beauty Block (Calgary) and Udumbara Handmade Crochet Items (USA).  

To learn more about Hidden Hearts Dating Quest, visit https://helpusdefend.com/?page_id=5513. 

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About DEFEND

DEFEND is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2020. DEFEND strives to change the online world by reducing risks for children and other vulnerable people on all social media platforms. DEFEND uses education, advocacy, and technological innovations to create safer digital environments for all users. Discover us on all social media platforms @helpusdefend. For more information, please visit https://helpusdefend.com/?page_id=125.

For more information, contact:

Kristy Fredrick, Marketing Assistant

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