Such groups may have unintended consequences, such as other group members taking matters into their own hands to track down a person to send critical messages or men losing privacy when they are proactively posted about as women seek to ensure they will be safe should they go on a date with them. Still, some online safety experts say the groups can act as a stop-gap measure for when dating apps — which still struggle to address harassment and other problematic behavior, such as the creation of multiple profiles under different names — fail to keep women and other marginalized groups safe.

"You see a lot of mischief online in ways that torment and exploit the privacy of women, girls and minorities ... [and yet] we're gnashing our teeth when people are using online tools to protect themselves," said Danielle Citron, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law and director of the LawTech Center. "I'm not saying that this is the way to do it ... but when you have no other alternative, when you don't have accountability, people take self-protective measures into their own hands."

In general, dating apps have long failed to adequately screen or vet who signs up to use their services. They require little information to create a profile, making it difficult to pre-screen accounts before they're able to begin connecting with others. While some have introduced varying measures intended to crack down on bad actors, much of the content moderation happens after accounts are created, and it is based, at least in part, on user reports. (Garbo, a newly-launched nonprofit background check provider, which has received funding from Match Group (MTCH), is trying to change that. Recognizing the trend of TikTokers sharing details of their bad dates, Garbo's corporate TikTok account re-shared one post and commented: "This is exactly why we exist.")