Talk about boundaries before making plans
Shared interests do not replace clear agreement.
Make room for specific limits
Discuss what you are comfortable talking about, what you prefer to keep private and what you do not want. A boundary does not need a detailed justification. Listen to the answer rather than treating it as a negotiation.
Keep each decision separate
Agreeing to exchange messages is not agreeing to share photographs. Agreeing to meet is not agreeing to intimacy. Check that both people want the next step instead of relying on a previous conversation as permission for something new.
Allow a change of mind
Anyone can pause or withdraw agreement. Respond calmly and stop if the other person is unsure. Clear communication is a shared responsibility, and enthusiasm should never have to be obtained through pressure, persistence or fear of disappointing someone.