Staying safe
How F-Buddy keeps you safe
The checks we run, what other members can see, and the tools you control.
- Free, optional ID checks
- Block anyone instantly
- Your town, not your address
The short version
Members see your username, never your real name.
Your email stays private too.
They see your town, never your address.
Not where you are right now, either.
Block anyone, instantly.
They can no longer contact you or see you.
ID checks are free, and optional.
Members who verify get a badge, so you can see who has.
Who's real
Ways to check the person you're talking to is genuine.
-
Free ID checks
Verifying your ID is free and optional. Members who do it get a badge on their profile.
What it means for you You can see who has proved they're real.
-
Video checks
A short live video check with a moderator confirms someone is who they say, with no documents needed.
What it means for you Proof someone is genuine, without sharing ID.
-
Age checks
AI estimates a member's age, with further checks where the law requires them.
What it means for you Helps keep under-18s off the site.
-
Reputation scores
Every member has a score built from how they behave and the feedback they get.
What it means for you A quick read on who to trust before you reply.
What other members see
Only what you choose to share.
-
Your username, not your name
Other members see your username. Your real name and email are never shown publicly.
What it means for you Harder for anyone to find you on social media.
-
Your town, not your address
Your profile shows your nearest town or city, never your address or where you are right now.
What it means for you Your home stays private.
-
Blurred images
Images that may be explicit are blurred, with a warning, until you choose to view them.
What it means for you No unwanted explicit images.
You're in control
Tools you can use at any moment.
-
Block anyone
Block a member and they can no longer contact you or see you. It works straight away.
What it means for you You decide who can reach you.
-
Report it
Report a member, or anything they've posted, from inside the site.
What it means for you Problems get to the people who can act on them.
-
Rate a chat
Mark an interaction up or down with one tap.
What it means for you Good behaviour is noticed, and bad experiences are flagged early.
-
Ask for removal
Ask for content posted without your consent, or that's harmful, to be taken down, and it's dealt with quickly.
What it means for you Less exposure, and your privacy respected.
Watching out for you
What happens in the background, by software and by people.
-
Activity monitoring
AI looks for unusual or suspicious patterns of activity.
What it means for you Helps spot scammers, bots and harmful users early.
-
Content screening
Photos, videos and text are screened as they're uploaded, by AI and by people.
What it means for you Helps catch harmful content early.
-
Off-site chat warnings
If someone tries to move your chat to WhatsApp or another app, you're warned.
What it means for you Warns you about a common scam tactic.
-
Safety tips
Tips and reminders built into the site, for chatting and for meeting in person.
What it means for you Help with safer choices online and when you meet.
-
Real people in support
The support team are real people, there to help around the clock by chat and messaging.
What it means for you Help when you need it.
Something not right?
Report it from inside the site, or contact us and the support team will help.
More on staying safe
Guides and help from F-Buddy.
As featured in
