Feel fine dating online

By DEVIN HEILMAN

Staff Writer

Virtual Valentines, fear not. Idaho is a great state to find an online date.

A SafeWise and HighSpeedInternet.com joint report released Jan. 23 found the Gem State to be the fifth-safest for online dating.

"A lot of states and cities that make 'safest' lists are there because of their strong community policing efforts," SafeWise home and community safety expert Sarah Brown said Monday. "Keeping an eye out for your friends and neighbors can make all of the difference when it comes to community safety, especially with dating."

Brown said part of Idaho's safety ranking is its "old-school values."

"Although there is no 'value' statistic to numerically explain it, the values that are taught in homes and school play an important role in the development of people," she said.

The report also ranked Idaho as the fourth-lowest for sexually transmitted diseases and fifth-lowest per capita for violent crime.

Idaho and New Hampshire placed well on these lists without a state requirement for sex education in schools.

"You’ll notice New Hampshire and Idaho don’t require sex education, but are still doing pretty well on our list of safest states," wrote HighSpeedInternet.com analyst and blogger Kaz Weida. "Students may still get sex education in these states because school policy and curriculum is left up to districts to decide rather than mandated by the state."

SafeWise is a home security and safety advice provider while HighSpeedInternet.com assists consumers with making informed decisions when choosing internet providers.

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, the entities worked together on this project to help people plan enjoyable and safe dates. They analyzed FBI cyber crime and violent crime rates as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea, the most common STDs in the U.S.

The research found a close correlation between STDs and violent crimes. Washington, D.C., ranked highest for rate of STDs per capita and rate per capita of violent crime.

"The District of Columbia’s rates per capita for both violent crime and STDs are almost double the rates in Alaska, its nearest competitor on our Most Dangerous list," Weida wrote. "We do see some predictable reasons for the alarming stats in D.C., including a concentrated and heavily populated urban area accompanied by a younger population that doesn’t benefit from state-mandated sex education. However, the statistics are disconcerting and should send a clear message to singles everywhere. Our nation’s capital is not where you want OkCupid to find love for you."

The research analyzed age, politics and church attendance as factors. Political affiliation didn't bear much weight. However, the study found states that are open about sex, especially contraception, have less crime and fewer STDs.

Ahead of Idaho on the safest online dating list are Utah, New Hampshire and Maine with Vermont at No. 1. Vermont also has the lowest rate of violent crime in the nation. The most dangerous top five are Nevada, New Mexico, Louisiana, Alaska and D.C.

"Statistically, Idaho is neck-and-neck with the other top safest states for online dating with 2.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, 0.6 cyber crimes per 1,000 people and just over four cases of the most common STDs per 1,000 people," Brown said. "Socially, Idaho has a very close-knit feel within their communities, a large group of outdoor enthusiasts and has a very strong culture of fun and caring."

The research can found at www.highspeedinternet.com/resources/safest-states-online-dating.