Staying safe

• Every photo is checked first. A photo is hidden until it passes an automatic check. Anything the check isn't sure about goes to a person. Nothing is approved by default.
• Adults only. You must be 18 or older. A photo or message that suggests someone is younger is always looked at by a person, and anyone can report a profile as under 18.
• One message until you reply. Someone you haven't answered can't keep writing to you. "Not interested" hides their message, and they are never told.
• Your location stays vague. We only know the suburb or town you chose. Distances are measured between areas, so nobody can work out where you actually are. Location data is stripped from photos when you upload them.
• The Lounge is moderated. Every message is checked before anyone else sees it. Phone numbers, links and social handles aren't allowed there. Repeated rejections mean a 24-hour break from posting.
• Blocking is complete. Block someone and you disappear from each other everywhere: New, Nearby, messages and the Lounge. They aren't told.

Every profile and every chat has a Report or block option. In the Lounge, tap a message to get the same choices. Reports are confidential: the other person is never told who reported them. A person reads every report, and we remove members who harass, deceive or threaten others.

Report anything that feels off, even if you're not sure. A profile that seems fake, someone who asks for money, someone who won't take no for an answer, someone who seems under 18. You can also email [email protected].

• Meet somewhere public the first few times: a coffee shop, a market, a busy restaurant. Not your home or theirs.
• Tell a friend who you're meeting, where and when. Share your live location with them for the evening, and agree a time to check in.
• Get there and back on your own. Drive yourself or book your own ride, so you can leave when you want to. Don't accept a lift from someone you've just met.
• Keep your drink and your phone with you. Charge your phone before you go. If you leave a drink unattended, order a new one.
• Video call first. A short call before you meet is the quickest way to know the person matches the photos.
• Leave if it feels wrong. You don't owe anyone an explanation, a second drink or a second date.

• They ask for money. An emergency, a stuck payment, a flight to come and see you, airtime, a voucher. Never send money or share banking details, however good the story is.
• They have an investment for you. Crypto and forex "opportunities" from someone you met online are scams. All of them.
• They're in a hurry to leave Dateclub. Be wary of anyone who wants to move to WhatsApp or Telegram in the first few messages. Off the site, we can't see what happens or help.
• They can never meet or video call. Working on an oil rig, deployed overseas, camera always broken. Someone real and nearby can find ten minutes for a call.
• They ask for intimate photos. These get used for blackmail. If someone threatens to share a photo of you, don't pay: it doesn't stop. Stop replying, keep the messages, report them to us and to the police.

If you are in danger, call the police first. We are a small team and can't respond to emergencies.

• Police emergency: 10111
  or 112 from any cellphone.
• Gender-Based Violence Command Centre: 0800 428 428
  Free, 24 hours. Or dial *120*7867# and they call you back.
• SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567
  Free, 24 hours, if you or someone you're talking to is struggling.

What we keep about you, and who sees it, is in our privacy policy.