all of you, by design
Safety Guidelines & Offline Disclaimer
Binder Community Limited · No. 17058768
Overview
Your safety is important to us. Binder gives you tools to connect and to stay safe, but a lot depends on the choices you make. Please read these guidelines before connecting with people on Binder or meeting anyone in person.
1. The important bit: what we do and don’t do
• We do not run background checks or identity checks on users beyond age assurance. We cannot confirm that someone is who they say they are.
• Meeting people you’ve met online is at your own risk. You decide whether, when and how to meet, and you are responsible for those decisions.
• We provide reporting and blocking tools, moderate content, and act on reports — but we cannot prevent every harm, and we are not responsible for the conduct of other users (see section 8).
2. Before you meet: staying safe online
• Take your time and chat within Binder before moving to other apps or sharing contact details.
• Protect your personal information — be cautious about sharing your full name, home or work address, workplace, financial details or daily routine early on.
• Consider a voice or video call before meeting, to check the person is who they say they are.
• Be alert to ‘catfishing’ and pressure: requests to move off-platform quickly, refusal to video call, or stories that don’t add up.
3. Meeting in person
• Meet in a public place, at least the first few times, and during the day where you can.
• Tell a friend or family member where you’re going, who you’re meeting and when you expect to be back; consider sharing your live location with someone you trust.
• Arrange your own transport to and from the meeting, and don’t leave drinks or belongings unattended.
• Trust your instincts — if you feel uncomfortable, you can leave at any time. You never owe anyone an explanation.
• Consent matters at every stage; it can be withdrawn at any time, by anyone.
4. Protecting your privacy and identity
Some people use Binder to express parts of their identity — including their sexual orientation or gender identity — that they have not shared publicly. Please be thoughtful about your own privacy and respect others’ too.
• Use our privacy settings to control who can see you and your Facets; you can limit visibility without deleting your account.
• Be careful about images or details that reveal where you live, work or regularly go.
• Never share another person’s identity, sexual orientation, gender identity, images or location without their consent — ‘outing’ someone can cause serious harm and breaks our rules.
• If you are travelling, be aware that attitudes and laws relating to LGBTQ+ people vary, and take extra care with what you share and where.
5. Scams and financial safety
• Never send money, gift cards or cryptocurrency to someone you’ve met on Binder, however convincing their story.
• Be wary of anyone who quickly professes strong feelings, then asks for money, help with ‘investments’, or your financial details.
• Report and block anyone who asks you for money — it helps protect others too.
6. Harassment, unwanted contact and abuse
You should never have to put up with harassment, threats, or unwanted sexual messages or images (‘cyberflashing’) on Binder. If someone makes you uncomfortable:
• you can block them and report them in the app;
• you can stop replying at any time; and
• we will review reports and take action under our Community Guidelines, which may include removing content or accounts.
7. If something goes wrong
• If you are in immediate danger, call 999 (or your local emergency number).
• Report the user and the content to us in the app so we can act and, where appropriate, support any investigation.
• Keep evidence where you safely can (screenshots, messages), which can help the police and us.
• If you have experienced sexual violence or assault, you can contact specialist support services; if you have been the victim of a crime, you can report it to the police.
• If you are struggling or in crisis, please reach out to a trusted person or a support organisation (for example Samaritans on 116 123, or Switchboard LGBTQ+ helpline on 0800 0119 100).
8. Our role, and its limits
We work to make Binder safer through product design, moderation and the tools above, and we take reports seriously. But please understand:
• we cannot guarantee the identity, intentions or conduct of any user;
• we are not responsible for what other users do, online or offline; and
• these guidelines are advice to help you stay safe — they are not a guarantee of safety.
Nothing in these guidelines limits or excludes any responsibility we have to you that cannot be limited or excluded by law, including for death or personal injury caused by our negligence. Our responsibilities and their limits are set out in our Terms of Service.
9. Changes and contact
We may update these guidelines from time to time. For help or to report a safety concern, use the in-app tools or contact: