In a call, you are always in control
What we do
- Reports are reviewed by people. Report someone right in the call, or from a profile, a chat or a live stream.
- Blocks work immediately. A blocked person can't reach you; you can undo a block from your block list.
- Rules are enforced. Accounts that break the community guidelines are suspended or removed, and new accounts opened to get around a removal are removed too.
- Your data isn't for sale. We don't sell personal data, we never store card numbers, and conversations aren't read as a matter of routine; only a reported part is looked at.
Only for people who are at least 18 years old
You must be at least 18 years old to use Online Chat. Anyone under 18 may not use it, and an account found to belong to someone under 18 is removed. If you meet someone you believe is under 18, end the chat and report them.
Habits that keep you safe with strangers
- Keep your full name, address, school or workplace, and account numbers to yourself.
- Be wary of anyone who pushes you to move to another app or to send money, photos or codes.
- Show only what you are happy for a stranger to see. Check what is behind you before a call.
- If something feels off, press Next or end the call. You never need a reason.
- Report anything that breaks the rules, even if you have already moved on. It helps the next person.
Common tricks to watch for
Most problems with strangers online follow a few familiar patterns. Treat any of these as a reason to end the chat and report:
- "Let's talk somewhere else." A quick push to another app, often before any real conversation, usually means someone wants to get away from our reports and moderation.
- Requests for money, gift cards or codes. Including a "verification code" sent to your phone. Nobody on Online Chat needs one from you.
- Links to click. Especially ones promising a prize, a private video or a login page.
- Threats about a recording. If anyone claims to have recorded you and asks for money, don't pay and don't argue: block, report, and keep any messages as evidence.
- A camera that never shows a face. A still image or a pre-recorded clip in place of a live person.
Before your first video chat
- Check what is behind you: mail, documents, a window with a street sign or a house number.
- Pick a nickname that isn't your real name or your username elsewhere.
- Remember the call controls: you can mute your mic, switch your camera off or end the call at any moment.
- Know where Report and Block are before you need them: in the call, on a profile, in a chat and in a live stream.
If something goes wrong
Report it from the call, profile, chat or live stream it happened in: choose a reason, add a few details and, if you have them, screenshots. Then block the person if you want; a block works immediately. If you are in danger, contact your local emergency services first. The community guidelines list what isn't allowed, and the Help Center explains reports and blocks step by step.
Questions about this page
See the contact page for the quickest way to reach us, or use the report option on the profile concerned.