Reporting Inappropriate Behavior

Why Reporting Matters

Maintaining a safe, positive community requires the active participation of community members like you. While our moderation team works to identify and address problematic behavior, user reports are often the most effective way to bring issues to our attention. Every report contributes to keeping our platform safe for everyone.

The vast majority of inappropriate behavior never reaches our moderation team directly because users don't report it. Many users experiencing problematic behavior aren't sure whether it qualifies as a violation, whether reporting will make a difference, or whether the process is too complicated. This guide aims to address those concerns and empower you to take action when you encounter problematic behavior.

Your reports genuinely make a difference. We use report data to identify patterns of problematic behavior, prioritize enforcement actions, and improve our systems to prevent future violations. Reports from multiple users about the same individual create compelling evidence that prompts serious investigation and appropriate consequences.

Beyond helping our moderation team, reporting protects you and other community members from ongoing harm. The person engaging in problematic behavior may not stop on their own, and your silence may be interpreted as acceptance. Reporting ensures that actions are taken and future potential victims are protected.

What to Report

Understanding what constitutes reportable behavior helps ensure that reports are taken seriously and addressed appropriately. This section describes categories of behavior that should be reported.

Sexual and Explicit Content: Any sexual content, explicit behavior, unwanted sexual advances, or pornographic material shared during video chats should be reported. This includes users who expose themselves, request sexual acts, or send sexually explicit content. These violations create unsafe environments that require moderator intervention.

Harassment and Bullying: Directed harassment, bullying, threats, or intimidation based on personal characteristics should be reported. This includes making derogatory comments about someone's appearance, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other personal attributes. Persistent harassment that creates a hostile environment is particularly serious.

Hate Speech: Content that promotes hatred or discrimination against groups or individuals based on protected characteristics should be reported. Hate speech undermines the dignity of targeted individuals and creates toxic community environments. We take hate speech extremely seriously.

Scams and Exploitation: Any attempt to scam users, solicit money or financial information, or engage in deceptive practices should be reported. Romance scams, investment fraud, phishing attempts, and similar exploitation are common threats on platforms like ours. Report suspected scams even if you didn't fall victim to them.

What Not to Report

To ensure our moderation resources focus on serious issues, certain situations should not be reported through our standard reporting channels.

Personal Disagreements: Normal disagreements and conflicts that don't involve harassment, threats, or other serious misconduct are generally not appropriate for formal reporting. If someone says something you disagree with or find offensive but isn't engaging in targeted harassment, consider ending the conversation rather than filing a report.

Content You Simply Dislike: If content is not explicitly prohibited by our guidelines and isn't causing direct harm, it may not warrant reporting. Our guidelines exist to address serious threats to safety and dignity, not to police all speech that community members might find unpleasant.

False Reports: Never file false reports about users who haven't actually engaged in the behavior you're reporting. False reports waste moderation resources and can unfairly harm other users. If you're unsure whether behavior warrants reporting, describe what you observed without embellishment and let our team make the determination.

How to Report

Our reporting process is designed to be straightforward while gathering the information needed for effective moderation. Follow these steps to submit reports that our team can act upon.

During Video Chats: Use the report button available during active video chat sessions. This button typically appears as a flag or warning icon on your screen during conversations. Clicking it opens a reporting form where you can describe what happened.

Completing the Report Form: Provide as much detail as possible about what you observed. Include the username of the person you're reporting, a description of the specific behavior that violated guidelines, when the behavior occurred, and any other context that might help our team assess the situation. The more specific and detailed your report, the more effectively our team can respond.

After the Conversation: If you need to report behavior after the conversation has ended, contact our support team directly through the support center or contact form. Include all relevant details about who you're reporting and what they did. Note that reports are most effective when submitted close to when the behavior occurred.

Multiple Reports: If multiple users experience problematic behavior from the same individual, each should submit their own report. Separate reports from different users carry significant weight in our enforcement process. If you're part of a group that experienced coordinated harassment, note that in your report to help us understand the full scope.

What Happens After You Report

After submitting a report, you might wonder what happens next. Understanding our process helps set appropriate expectations while ensuring you understand that your report is being acted upon.

Reports are reviewed by our moderation team, typically within 24 to 48 hours for standard submissions. Urgent reports involving imminent safety concerns receive priority review. Our team assesses each report against our guidelines and community standards to determine appropriate action.

Actions taken in response to reports range from warnings to permanent account termination depending on the severity of violations and the user's history. We don't always inform reporters about specific actions taken against the subjects of their reports, as this would allow bad actors to game our enforcement systems.

Keeping Yourself Safe

While reporting helps address problematic behavior after it occurs, your first priority should always be your own safety. This section provides guidance on protecting yourself during problematic interactions.

Trust Your Instincts: If something feels wrong during a conversation, trust that feeling. You don't need concrete evidence that someone is violating guidelines to end a conversation. "I need to go now" followed by disconnecting is always an acceptable response to feeling uncomfortable.

Exit Before Confronting: Don't feel obligated to confront someone about their behavior before disconnecting. Your safety takes priority over providing explanations or engaging in debates with the person behaving inappropriately. Disconnect first, report second.

Preserve Evidence When Safe: If you can do so without risk to yourself, preserving some evidence of problematic behavior helps our moderation team investigate. Screenshot conversations when possible. However, never put yourself in additional danger simply to gather evidence.

Block Users: Use our blocking tools to prevent users who make you uncomfortable from contacting you again. Blocking is immediate and prevents that user from connecting with you through our platform. You can block users during conversations or through your account settings after the fact.

After Reporting

Once you've submitted a report, focus on your own well-being rather than dwelling on the reported behavior.

Take time to do something comforting after experiencing or reporting problematic behavior. The emotional labor of reporting can be significant, and you deserve care afterward. Reach out to supportive friends or community resources if the experience was particularly distressing.

Don't monitor the reported user or seek them out after reporting. This only prolongs your exposure to someone who caused you harm. Trust our team to handle the situation and move forward with your platform usage.

Additional Resources

If you need support beyond what our reporting process provides, these resources can help.

Crisis Resources: If you experience or witness a situation involving imminent danger, contact local emergency services first. Our platform cannot provide emergency response, and situations involving immediate physical threat require local authorities.

Mental Health Support: If inappropriate behavior has significantly affected your mental health, consider reaching out to mental health professionals or support organizations. The impact of harassment and exploitation sometimes requires professional support beyond what our platform can provide.

Legal Resources: If you've experienced behavior that might constitute a crime, legal resources in your jurisdiction can provide guidance. While we cooperate with law enforcement when required, we cannot provide legal advice to individual users.

Support Groups: Various online communities provide peer support for people who've experienced harassment or exploitation online. Connecting with others who've had similar experiences can provide validation and practical guidance for recovery.